With the 79th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch
byTori McElhaney&Will McFadden
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. With the No. 79 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected University of Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch.
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Branch had a standout 2025 season for the Georgia Bulldogs, making a name for himself just down the road from the Falcons' team facility. He is considered a true playmaker at the receiver position and should be in contention to be a starting returner for the Falcons as a rookie.
Height:5-foot-9
Weight:177
Age:22
School:University of Georgia
2025 Stats:10 starts out of 14 games played | 81 catches | 811 receiving yards | 10.0 yards per catch average | 6 touchdowns
- Click to view complete college stats
Honors:Second Team All-SEC (2025), led the SEC in receptions
Expert Opinions
Dane Brugler, The Athletic:"Branch ran a screen on 25.4 percent of his routes (No. 1 in the FBS; one of just three FBS receivers above 18 percent), and his average depth of target over his career was a paltry 5.2 yards. The manufactured touches allowed him to show his catch-and-burst ability (78 percent of his career receiving yards came after the catch), but he is a smaller target and most of the branches on his route tree lack polish. Overall, Branch has dynamic speed and the linear twitch to threaten the defense before and after the catch, but there is a lot of good-faith projection required to envision him as more than a gadget player. He projects as a versatile slot receiver with return value (in the Rondale Moore mold)."
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network:"Branch is a compact slot receiver with outstanding speed and quickness. Most of his targets at Georgia came via quick throws. He catches a lot of screens, slants and quick-outs. He's also very effective on pivot routes because of his elite ability to instantly stop/start. He doesn't have natural hands, though. He likes to use his body, even on balls thrown outside his frame. He will jump and absorb the ball with his chest. He's at his best with the ball in his hands. He's elusive and has dynamic long speed. He's also electric as a kick returner. He was a track champion in high school and it shows on the field. Branch can make big plays out of simple throws, which will make him attractive to NFL offensive coordinators."
This story will continue to be updated.
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