Georgia WR Zachariah Branch's draft grade to Falcons has both of the fanbases buzzing

It used to be so taboo for the Atlanta Falcons to draft Georgia Bulldogs. While one would think the NFL afterthought of a franchise would want to have more good players off a blue-blood program from just down the road, nothing is as easy as it seems. What if a homegrown star does not work out? Well, recent history shows the Falcons are no longer afraid anymore. They just drafted Zachariah Branch...

Dawg Nation was so pumped to see this speedy wide receiver make his way over to Flowery Branch.

The Falcons picked two homegrown products in Branch and Clemson's Avieon Terrell on Friday night.

Branch had a stellar season at Georgia after transferring over from USC with his brother Zion. While there were some rumblings about Branch potentially being a very late first-round pick, he always felt like a day-two pick. Add in the nature of his untimely arrest in Athens after G-Day, it allowed for him to fall all the way to the Falcons with pick No. 79 in the third round. Frankly, the arrest did not matter here.

Let's now get down to it by grading the fit for Branch joining up with these new-look Falcons in 2026.

Georgia Bulldogs' Zachariah Branch to Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft grade

In terms of value, getting a player as potentially electrifying as Branch at No. 79 overall is about as good as it gets. Had he run more traditional routes during his lone season at Georgia, he might have been a top-32 selection. In a different universe, he probably should have been a top-50 pick. Then again, we also just saw a borderline first-round lock in Terrell fall to his older brother's team at No. 48.

When it comes to fit, Branch slots in nicely into Atlanta's receiving corps. Former USC star Drake London is the team's bona-fide No. 1. Tight end Kyle Pitts is a phyiscal freak who can be moved all around the chessboard like Branch and London can. They also have the best running back in football in Bijan Robinson in his prime. All of these guys will be playing behind a top-12 offensive line as well...

The big key here is the quarterback situation and the new coaching staff. It will be either Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa serving as the starting quarterback for this franchise, with veteran Trevor Siemian backing both of them up this season. Kevin Stefanski comes over from Cleveland to lead this team. Former Browns and Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will have a role in play-calling.

Overall, if Branch can assume the role Ray-Ray McCloud occupied two years ago in the slot, as well as be as impactful as Darnell Mooney was in his first year with the Dirty Birds, then this pick should work out splendidly. Atlanta really needed a No. 2-caliber wide receiver in this draft behind London. Atlanta also has the likes of Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus in the Dirty Birds' receiving corps as well.

Ultimately, it is hard to knock this pick made by the Falcons. The value is tremendous and the upside is incredible. For now, it is all about getting the ball into Branch's hands. Frankly, it will come down to Stefanski's coaching, Tagovailoa's accuracy, and Penix's development. This pick has a chance to help Atlanta end its NFC-worst playoff drought in the next year or so. Atlanta is not bothered by his arrest.

This has the potential to be the steal of the draft, akin to the Falcons getting Xavier Watts last season.

Grade: A

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow