Story by
4 potential Falcons WR targets who improved their stock at the combine
- Story by
- 4 potential Falcons WR targets who improved their stock at the combine
The Atlanta Falcons have a few needs to address in the offseason, but the wide receiver position arguably needs the most work. Since the team is expected to release KhaDarel Hodge and possibly Darnell Mooney , Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham will need to find replacements in the draft and free agency.
The team doesn't have a first-round pick, but there are several talented wide receiver prospects in the 2026 draft class. That much was made clear at the NFL combine over the weekend. The wide receivers stole the show at the 40-yard dash, and Atlanta has to be happy with the results.
Advertisement
Here's a look at four potential Falcons draft targets who improved their stock at 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
1). WR Zachariah Branch, Georgia
-
40 time:4.35 seconds
-
PFF big board rank:79
Branch was already a popular Falcons draft projection prior to the combine. At 5-foot-10, the Georgia wide receiver is on the smaller side, but he has elite speed and athleticism. Branch's official 40-yard dash time of 4.35 seconds was tied for the sixth-fastest among wide receivers at the combine. Last season, the Bulldogs wideout recorded career highs in receptions (81), yards (811) and touchdowns (6). The Falcons could be tempted to take Branch somewhere on Day 2 of the draft.
2). WR Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State
-
40 time:4.26 seconds
-
PFF big board rank:126
Advertisement
Thompson was the talk of the combine this weekend after completing the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.26 seconds. The Mississippi State standout is just 5-foot-9, but his speed left NFL scouts drooling. Thompson also has the production to back it up. Last season, he recorded 57 catches for 1,054 receiving yards and six touchdowns, averaging over 18 yards per reception. The 126th-rated prospect on PFF's big board definitely helped his draft stock in Indy.
3). WR Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati
-
40 time:4.31
-
PFF big board rank:198
Caldwell is a 6-foot-5, 215-pound wide receiver prospect out of Cincinnati. Unlike some of the other big-bodied wide receivers, Caldwell lit up the 40-yard dash over the weekend. The former Bearcat finished fourth among wide receivers at the combine with a 40 time of 4.31 seconds. While his production dipped in 2025, Caldwell had over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024. The Falcons should take a hard look at Caldwell if he's around on Day 3.
4). WR De'Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss
-
40 time:4.36 seconds
-
PFF big board rank:116
Advertisement
At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling has good size and measurables. The Rebels standout has topped 800 receiving yards in back-to-back years and has 12 total touchdowns over the last two seasons combined. Stribling's 4.36 second 40-yard dash time ranked eighth among wide receivers at the combine. PFF lists Stribling as the 116th-rated prospect on its 2026 big board, making him a potential mid-round target for Atlanta.
The 2026 NFL Draft begins on April 23 and runs through April 25. The Falcons will have to wait until Day 2 to make their first selection.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: WR targets who improved stock at combine
