The Atlanta Falcons are going into the 2026 NFL Draft with a new head coach, general manager and president of football, but they have no first-round pick due to last year’s trade for edge rusher James Pearce Jr. This means the team will have to sit out on Day 1 of the draft.
The Falcons won’t make their first pick until Day 2, starting with the 48th overall selection in Round 2 followed by the 79th overall pick in Round 3. However, considering the team’s lack of draft capital, trades are very much in play. Don’t be surprised to see the team trade down on Day 2 for more picks.
After examining the past decade of players selected at the team’s second-round draft slot, let’s check out the last 10 players drafted with the Falcons’ third-round slot (pick No. 79 overall).
2025 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- WR Jaylin Noel (Texans)
- 17 games played (3 starts)
2024 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- OT Matt Goncalves (Colts)
- 33 games played (24 starts)
2023 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- WR Josh Downs (Colts)
- 47 games played (28 starts)
2022 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- S JT Woods (Chargers)
- 13 games played (1 start)
2021 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- LB Malcolm Koonce (Raiders)
- 56 games played (14 starts)
2020 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- DL Jabari Zuniga (Jets)
- 12 games played (0 starts)
2019 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- CB David Long (Rams)
- 80 games played (12 starts)
2018 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- DT Rasheem Green (Seahawks)
- 86 games played (29 starts)
2017 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- WR ArDarius Stewart (Jets)
- 15 games played (2 starts)
2016 NFL Draft: Pick No. 79
- G Isaac Seumalo (Eagles)
- 104 starts, 1 Pro Bowl
The Falcons will make their third-round pick late on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, which kicks off Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFL Draft history of Atlanta Falcons’ third-round pick slot