Falcons view receiver as ‘premium position,’ have abundant options in NFL draft

The answer, Cunningham said, will come from the “nerdy birds,” the self-anointed nickname for the Falcons’ analytics and IT crew. The stars may align for the Falcons, whose biggest need matches a strength within Cunningham’s perceived sweet spot.

The Falcons, seeking receiver help, have plenty of capable options on the draft’s second day, NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Wednesday in Indianapolis.

“I think there’s going to be good options there,” Jeremiah said. “There’s going to be a laundry list of intriguing options there, just depending on what you’re looking for.”

Jeremiah mentioned Alabama receiver Germie Bernard and Tennessee wideout Chris Brazzell II as specific candidates depending on the role, and style, teams desire in their pass-catchers.

Bernard, who played with Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in 2023 at Washington, is a versatile, athletic weapon who offers run-after-catch ability. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Brazzell pairs size with speed and projects as an outside receiver, while Bernard may fit better in the slot.

Jeremiah has 10 receivers among his top 50 players, including second-round options in Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields (No. 44), Clemson’s Antonio Williams (No. 46), Oklahoma’s Deion Burks (No. 49) and Georgia’s Zachariah Branch (No. 50).

The Falcons have needs across the board at receiver. Drake London, who caught 68 passes for 919 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games last season, will play on the fifth-year option associated with his rookie contract in 2026. Only two other wide receivers — Darnell Mooney and David Sills — caught more than seven passes this past season.

Mooney is entering the final season of his three-year contract, and if he’s designated as a post-June 1 release, the Falcons save $11.92 million in salary-cap space, according to OverTheCap. After an injury-plagued 2025 season, Mooney’s future with the organization is in doubt, and Cunningham said the Falcons are still deciding whether he’ll be back in the fold this fall.

“That’s another thing that we’re working through right now,” Cunningham said, “and we’ll decide that here shortly.”

The Falcons, short on depth and talent around London, figure to be in the market for receivers. Cunningham said the team will keenly evaluate wideouts during their on-field drills and athletic testing Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“It’s a premium position, right?” Cunningham said. “I feel like at this event, it’s my job to kind of look at every single position. But definitely going to make sure that we evaluate the receivers as well.”

Cunningham wants to manufacture picks and add to the Falcons’ small collection. He’s focused on adding pieces to a roster that, in his assessment, has “some really good players at the top” but needs more depth.

Receiver is perhaps the Falcons’ most glaring need, and it also is one of the draft’s strongest positions. Now, Cunningham and his staff will glean lessons from the week in Indianapolis with hopes of marrying need, fit and value in the draft’s sweet spot.