The Atlanta Falcons added another defensive piece in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting Oklahoma linebacker Kendal Daniels with the No. 122 overall pick, according to AJC. The selection comes a day after the Falcons used their No. 48 pick on Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of incumbent Falcons cornerback AJ Terrell.
Daniels played at Oklahoma after transferring from Oklahoma State, where he was originally a safety. The position switch to linebacker gave him the kind of coverage and run-support flexibility that translates well to NFL defensive schemes. Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich likes versatile back-seven players, and Daniels fits the profile of a developmental player who can earn snaps on subpackages first and grow into a fuller role.
For downtown Atlanta, the Falcons' draft week is one of the few moments in the calendar when the team's preseason narrative gets a real shape. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host eight FIFA World Cup matches starting in June, and the Falcons' regular season opens in September with a roster that now includes the Terrell brothers and Daniels as new pieces.
The Falcons still have picks remaining in the later rounds of the draft, including selections at No. 215 in Round 6 and No. 231 in Round 7. With three new defensive players already on the roster after the first two days, Atlanta's draft strategy looks geared toward depth and speed in the back seven heading into a 2026 schedule that includes road games against several elite passing offenses.
