Put away your mock draft simulators! Close out your 15 browser tabs of prospect highlights! After months of interviews, workouts, speculation and constant tweet notifications, the 2025 NFL Draft is finally here.
Nerdy Birds is back with our Insider Draft Guide to answer all your questions and provide you with all the information needed to wow the group chat or water cooler on Thursday. Without further ado, let's get into it.
Where do the Falcons pick?
2025 Falcons Draft Selections
- Round 1 | No. 15 overall
- Round 2 | No. 46 overall
- Round 4 | No. 118 overall
- Round 7 | No. 218 overall*
- Round 7 | No. 242 overall*
Atlanta traded its 2025 third-round selection to the New England Patriots for OLB Matthew Judon.
*Atlanta received the 218th overall pick from the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for QB Taylor Heinicke.
*Atlanta received the 242nd overall pick from the Los Angeles Rams in a 2023 trade for WR Van Jefferson, which also included the Falcons' sixth-round selection.
How do I watch the Draft?
The 2025 NFL Draft will be broadcast on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes live from Green Bay, Wisconsin. The draft will kick off with the first round on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, the second and third rounds beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and the fourth through seventh rounds beginning at noon ET on Saturday. For more information on how to watch the NFL Draft, including streaming options, click here.
Taylor Vismor, Derek Rackley, Tori McElhaney and Dave Archer prime Falcons fans for the first round during the the 2025 Falcons Pre-Draft Show presented by Bud Light, which will air on the Atlanta Falcons YouTube channel and Facebook starting at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday night.
Vismor and Rackley will break down the team's roster, needs, prospects the Falcons could target and share their final predictions for how the draft will shake out. The show will also feature exclusive interviews with head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot as they put the finishing touches on their preparations.
Fox 5 Atlanta will air the Dirty Bird Report: Draft Night at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The one-hour draft special will also feature an exclusive live interview with Fontenot and live reports from Green Bay, Flowery Branch and the Falcons Draft Party at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
First-round breakdown
During draft season, there is a lot of talk about positional value and when it makes sense to draft players at certain positions. This begs the question: Which positions get picked where? Utilizing Pro Football Reference’s draft database, we looked at every draft since 2011 to find out. First, a quick disclaimer. Following the 2011 draft, the NFL and NFLPA signed a new collective bargaining agreement that brought into existence the rookie wage scale. This assigned contract values for drafted rookies based on where they were selected. It also mandated four-year contracts with a team option for a fifth year for all first-round picks.
For example, Sam Bradford was the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, the last before the 2011 CBA went into effect. Bradford signed a six-year, $78 million contract with the St. Louis Rams. According to Spotrac, this year's top overall pick will get a four-year deal worth $43 million, while the fifth-year option value is tiered based on things like playtime and Pro Bowl honors. In 2025, the Titans will save about $2.25 million per year compared to the Bradford contract from 14 years ago.
We chose to use 2011 as a baseline because that sample group adjusts for the rookie scale and how it has impacted the selection process and positional value.
Where do certain positions most frequently get picked?
We divided the data into four specific groups — picks 1-10, picks 1-15, picks 16-32 and then the full first round — to paint a picture of where teams have selected certain positions. We chose the second data group, picks 1-15, because it provides an idea of which positions could have a run in the draft before the Falcons come on the clock at pick No. 15.
It should come as no surprise that quarterback is the most frequently selected position in the top 10. Since 2011, 23.5% of top 10 picks have been used on quarterbacks, with an average of 2.4 quarterbacks getting drafted in the top 10. Pass rushers, which we are labeling as defensive ends and outside linebackers, are the next-most-selected group and represent 14.3% of top 10 picks. From there, wide receivers (13.6%), cornerbacks/defensive backs (11.4%) and offensive tackles (10.7%) come next.
When looking at the top 15 picks, quarterback (18.6%) and receiver (12.9%) lead the way, followed closely by pass rushers (12.4%). Offensive tackles and defensive backs are still represented well as marquee positions in the top 15 and get selected above a 10 percent clip. Interior defensive linemen make a big jump in this range, however — 10% of the players in the top 15 are classified as a defensive lineman, defensive tackle or nose tackle compared to that group representing just 3.4% of players taken in the top 10. Since 2011, there have been 16 players classified as a defensive tackle, nose tackle or defensive lineman who were selected between picks 11 and 15. If you need a big man on the interior of your defense, history shows those picks are prime real estate.
In the back half of the first round, defense takes over. From picks 16-32, defensive backs account for a whopping 21.6% of selections, while defensive players make up 55.9% of the total selections in the second half of the round.
Looking at the entire first round, cornerbacks, safeties and defensive backs (17.5%), pass rushers (13.7%) and wide receivers (13.5%) make up the bulk of the selections, which makes sense given the number of players at those positions NFL teams typically roster. Additionally, tackles and offensive linemen not designated as a guard or center, account for 9.4% and 5.6%, respectively. No matter how you slice it, the most consistently targeted positions across the first round are wide receivers, offensive tackles and defensive ends. Those positions are selected at a consistent rate, whether looking at the top 10, top half, back half or full first round.
Those are a lot of numbers, but what do they mean for the Falcons at pick No. 15 in this year's draft?
As for the Falcons' first-round tendencies, the team has aligned fairly closely with league-wide trends since 2011. Of Atlanta's 14 first-round picks during that span, 21.4% have been used on a wide receiver, offensive lineman or defensive back while pass rushers account for 14.3% of the team's selections. Wide receiver has been the most-frequently drafted position by the Falcons in the first round since 2011 with three players — Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Drake London — leading the way there.
| Year | Player | Pos. | Pick No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Julio Jones | WR | 6 |
| 2013 | Desmond Trufant | DB | 22 |
| 2014 | Jake Matthews | T | 6 |
| 2015 | Vic Beasley | OLB | 8 |
| 2016 | Keanu Neal | S | 17 |
| 2017 | Takk McKinley | DE | 26 |
| 2018 | Calvin Ridley | WR | 26 |
| 2019 | Chris Lindstrom | G | 14 |
| 2019 | Kaleb McGary | T | 31 |
| 2020 | A.J. Terrell | CB | 16 |
| 2021 | Kyle Pitts | TE | 4 |
| 2022 | Drake London | WR | 8 |
| 2023 | Bijan Robinson | RB | 8 |
| 2024 | Michael Penix | QB | 8 |
For those hoping for — or demanding — a defensive player, particularly a pass rusher, there should be options on the board. On average, roughly two pass rushers are taken in the top 15 each year. Atlanta could start the run on pass rushers, though, as data shows half of the edge rushers taken in the first round go between picks 16 and 32. Atlanta will also likely be in a prime position to grab a top cornerback. Travis Hunter's ability to skew these numbers notwithstanding.
One additional thing to note is teams' proclivity towards offensive players in the top 15 picks. Since 2011, 62% of top-10 picks and 58% of top-15 picks have been offensive players compared to just 38% and 42% on the defensive side. After the 15th pick, that flips with 56% of the picks being defensive players. That feels like it could put Atlanta in a favorable position for a trade back. If a team is looking for an offensive player, that player is more likely to come from the top 15 picks.
This is all draft-board agnostic and should be taken with a big grain of salt. Nevertheless, 14 years of draft history paints a good picture of where teams value certain positions in the first round and how things could play out on Thursday night.
History of pick No. 15
The Falcons are scheduled to make their first selection with the 15th pick in the first round. This will be the second time Atlanta has made a pick at No. 15 — it previously selected defensive back Clarence Elliss out of Notre Dame in 1972. Atlanta also owned the 15th pick in 2006 but traded the pick to Denver (more on that later). Since 2000, nearly half (12) of the players selected with the 15th overall pick have earned Pro Bowl honors. Additionally, six of those players have been tabbed as an All-Pro at least once, and Texans linebacker Brian Cushing won AP defensive rookie of the year in 2009.
Players Selected 15th Overall Since 2000
- 2024 – DL Laiatu Latu – Indianapolis Colts
- 2023 – DE Will McDonald – New York Jets
- 2022 – OL Kenyon Green – Houston Texans
- 2021 – QB Mac Jones – New England Patriots^
- 2020 – WR Jerry Jeudy – Denver Broncos^
- 2019 – QB Dwayne Haskins – Washington Commanders
- 2018 – T Kolton Miller – Las Vegas Raiders
- 2017 – S Malik Hooker – Indianapolis Colts
- 2016 – WR Corey Coleman – Cleveland Browns
- 2015 – RB Melvin Gordon – Los Angeles Chargers^
- 2014 – LB Ryan Shazier – Pittsburgh Steelers^
- 2013 – DB Kenny Vaccaro – New Orleans Saints
- 2012 – DE Bruce Irvin – Seattle Seahawks
- 2011 – G Mike Pouncey – Miami Dolphins^
- 2010 – DE Jason Pierre-Paul – New York Giants^&
- 2009 – LB Brian Cushing – Houston Texans^&$
- 2008 – G Branden Albert – Kansas City Chiefs^
- 2007 – LB Lawrence Timmons – Pittsburgh Steelers^&
- 2006 – DB Tye Hill – Los Angeles Rams
- 2005 – LB Derrick Johnson – Kansas City Chiefs^&
- 2004 – WR Michael Clayton – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 2003 – DE Jerome McDougle – Philadelphia Eagles
- 2002 – DT Albert Haynesworth – Tennessee Titans^&
- 2001 – WR Rod Gardner – Washington Commanders
- 2000 – DB Deltha O'Neal - Denver Broncos^&
Pro Football Hall of Famers
- 1967 – DT Alan Page – Minnesota Vikings
^ - Denotes Pro Bowler
& - Denotes All-Pro
$ - Denotes AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Here's the kicker
In 1978, the then-Saint Louis Cardinals took kicker Steve Little with the 15th overall pick. Even crazier, they took a defensive back four picks later at No. 19. Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome was selected by the Browns 23rd overall that year. Tough beat.
But wait, there's more! A kicker was drafted even earlier the following year. In 1979, the New Orleans Saints selected Russell Erxleben with the 11th overall pick. Shockingly, that's not the earliest a kicker has been selected. That honor goes to Charlie Gogolak, who was the sixth overall selection by the Washington Redskins in 1966. There were 20 rounds in that particular draft, each consisting of 16 picks.
Five kickers have been taken in the first round, but none since Sebastian Janikowski went 17th in 2000.
How often does a team hit on a player at 15?
A key question that often arises when attempting to evaluate draft success is: How do you measure it? Especially when it comes to a player selected in the first round. For this exercise, the following questions were considered to determine the success rate of a player chosen with the No. 15 overall pick.
- Did they become a consistent starter for the team?
- Was his fifth-year option picked up?
- Did the player sign a second contract with the club?
We are once again using the 2011 CBA and rookie wage scale discussed earlier as our starting point. In doing so, and using the criteria above, we found that the chances of a team "hitting" at No. 15 are 54.5%.
The last two selections at 15 overall were not included in this data set since they are still early in their careers and the jury is still out on Laiatu Latu and Will McDonald IV. But when evaluating whether their teams have found success in drafting a player at No. 15 overall in years to come, the questions above are ones that can be of help as an indicator.
*Note that Dwayne Haskins was not included in this exercise. Haskins was killed after being struck by a vehicle in 2022.
What could a trade package look like?
The 15th pick has been traded 11 times since 2000, including in three of the last four years. Below is a breakdown of those 11 trades and what each team ended up receiving and giving up in the transaction.
2023
The last time the 15th overall pick was traded was in 2023. The New York Jets traded first-, second- and sixth-round picks (13, 42 and 207) as well as a conditional second-round pick in 2024 to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and first- and fifth-round picks (15 and 170).
Trade Breakdown
- Jets: QB Aaron Rodgers, DE Will McDonald (2023, 15th overall), CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (2023, 204th overall)^, TE Jack Kuntz (2023, 220th overall)^
- Packers: DE Lukas Van Ness (2023, 13th overall), TE Luke Musgrave (2023, 42nd overall), K Anders Carlson (2023, 207th overall), LB Edgerrin Cooper (2024, 45th overall), S Evan Williams (2024, 111th overall), C Jacob Munk (2024, 163rd overall)*
^ - The Jets traded pick 170 (S Chris Smith II) to Las Vegas in exchange for selections 204 (sixth round) and 220 (seventh round). The Jets used those selections on CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse and TE Zack Kuntz.
*- The Packers received the 41st overall pick in 2024 via the original trade conditions. Green Bay traded that pick to the Saints in exchange for second-, fifth- and sixth round picks (45, 168, 190). Green Bay would then trade pick 168 to Buffalo for pick 163. The Packers also traded fourth- and sixth-round picks (126 and 190) to the Jets for the 111th overall selection.
2022
The Eagles traded the 15th overall pick as well as a fourth- and two fifth-round selections (124, 162 and 166) to the Houston Texans in exchange for the 13th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Trade Breakdown
- Houston: OG Kenyon Green (2022, 15th overall), John Metchie III (2022, 44th overall)
- Philadelphia: DT Jordan Davis (2022, 13th overall)
*- Houston traded picks 68, 108 and 124 to Cleveland in exchange for the 44th overall pick.
Fun Fact – The Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Houston for Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-round pick on March 12.
2018
Arizona traded picks 15, 79 and 152 to Oakland to move up No. 10 overall.
Trade Breakdown
- Oakland: OT Kolton Miller (2018, 15th overall), WR Martavis Bryant^, OT Brandon Parker (2018, 65th overall)*
- Arizona: Josh Rosen (2018, 10th overall)
^ - Oakland traded No. 79 overall to Pittsburgh for WR Martavis Bryant.
*- Oakland traded picks 75, 152 and 212 to Baltimore for the 65th overall pick.
Fun Fact – Brandon Parker is currently on the Falcons
2016
The Los Angeles Rams traded picks 15, 43, 45 and 76 as well as first- and third-round picks in 2017 to the Tennessee Titans for Nos. 1, 113 and 177. Tennessee would then trade the 15th and 76th picks to the Cleveland Browns for Nos. 8 and 176.
Trade Breakdown
- Los Angeles Rams: QB Jared Goff (2016, 1st overall), WR Pharoh Cooper (2016, 117th overall)^, TE Temarrick Hemingway (2016, 177th overall), WR Mike Thomas (2016, 206th overall)^
- Tennessee: OT Jack Conklin (2016, 8th overall), DT Austin Johnson (2016, 43rd overall), RB Derrick Henry (2016, 45th overall), CB LeShaun Sims (2016, 157th overall)*, WR Corey Davis (2017, 5th overall), TE Jonnu Smith (2017, 100th overall).
^ - The Rams traded 113 to Chicago for 117 and 206...
*- The Titans traded pick 176 and a 2017 sixth-round selection to Denver for No. 157.
2015
The San Francisco 49ers traded the 15th pick to the Los Angeles (San Diego at the time) Chargers for the 17th and 117th picks as well as a fifth-round pick in 2016, which would become the 142nd pick.
Trade Breakdown
- San Diego Chargers: RB Melvin Gordon (2015, 15th overall)
- San Francisco 49ers: DE Arik Armstead (2015, 17th overall), TE Blake Bell (2015, 117th overall), DE Ronald Blair (2016, 142nd overall)
2012
The Philadelphia Eagles traded picks 15, 114 and 172 to the Seattle Seahawks for the 12th overall pick.
Trade Breakdown
- Seattle Seahawks: DE Bruce Irvin (2012, 15th overall), DT Jaye Howard (2012, 114th overall), CB Jeremy Lane (2012, 172nd overall)
- Philadelphia Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox (2012, 12th overall)
2008
The Detroit Lions traded the 15th and 76th picks to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 17th, 66th and 136th picks.
Trade Breakdown
- Kansas City Chiefs: Branden Albert (2008, 15th overall), TE Brad Cottam (2008, 76th overall)
- Detroit Lions: OT Gosder Cherilus (2008, 17th overall), RB Kevin Smith (2008, 64th overall)^, WR Kenneth Moore (2008, 136th overall)
^ - Detroit traded picks 66 and 176 to Miami for pick No. 64.
2006
The Atlanta Falcons traded the 15th pick to the Denver Broncos for picks 29, 93 and a 2007 fourth-round pick, which would become pick No. 121. The Falcons traded the 29th overall pick to the New York Jets in exchange for John Abraham. Denver would later trade the 15th picks along with the 68th pick to the then Saint Louis Rams for the 11th overall pick.
Trade Breakdown
- Denver Broncos: QB Jay Cutler (2006, 11th overall), DT Marcus Thomas (2007, 121st overall)**
- Atlanta Falcons: DE John Abraham, CB Jimmy Williams (2006, 37th overall), OT Quinn Ojinnaka (2006, 139th overall), CB Chris Houston (2007, 41st overall)^
*- Atlanta traded picks 47, 93 and 148 to Green Bay for picks 37 and 139.
^ - Atlanta traded picks 44 and 121 to Minnesota for No. 41.
**- Denver traded picks 176 and 233 to Minnesota for pick 121, getting a pick they had originally traded to Atlanta back.
2003
The San Diego Chargers traded pick 15 to the Philadelphia Eagles for picks 30 and 62.
Trade Breakdown
- Philadelphia Eagles: DE Jerome McDougle (2003, 15th overall)
- San Diego Chargers: CB Sammy Davis (2003, 30th overall) and S Terrence Kiel (2003, 62nd overall)
2002
The New York Giants traded the 15th pick to the Tennessee Titans for the 14th and 110th picks.
Trade Breakdown
- New York Giants: TE Jermey Shockey (2002, 14th overall)
- Tennessee Titans: DT Albert Haynesworth (2002, 15th overall) and CB Mike Echols (2002, 110th overall)
2000
The Baltimore Ravens traded picks 15 and 45 to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the 10th overall pick.
Trade Breakdown
- Baltimore Ravens: WR Travis Taylor (2000, 10th overall)
- Denver Broncos: CB Deltha O'Neal (2000, 15th overall) and S Kenoy Kennedy (2000, 45th overall)
How many times have the Falcons traded picks?
Terry Fontenot has made a move in the second round in all four of his drafts since being named Falcons general manager in 2021. Fontenot has moved up each of the last three years, including trading up to 38th twice. He moved back in the second round in his first draft at the helm. Here is a detailed breakdown of each draft trade Fontenot has made with the Falcons.
2024
Atlanta moved up in the second round, trading second- (43) and third-round (79) picks to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for picks 35 and 186. The Falcons used the 35th pick on Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro and took Alabama running back Jase McClellan at 186.
2023
The Falcons started Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft by trading up to the 38th overall pick to select offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron out of Syracuse. In the trade, Atlanta swapped second-round picks with Indianapolis and sent the 110th overall pick to the Colts in order to move up for Bergeron.
2022
In 2023, Atlanta traded the 43rd and 114th overall selections to the New York Giants in exchange for the 38th pick and selected Penn State outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie.
2021
The first and only time the Falcons moved back in the Draft came in 2021, when Atlanta sent the 35th and 219th overall picks to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the 40th and 114th picks. The Falcons selected safety Richie Grant with the 40th pick and center Drew Dalman with pick 114.
Where do the All-Pros get drafted?
The Associated Press All-Pro teams are among the highest honors in the NFL. Divided into first and second teams, All-Pro honors recognize the best players at each position each year and are selected by a national panel of 50 media members.
There have been 148 players who entered the league in 2014 or later to earn All-Pro honors on offense or defense. In total, those 148 players have amassed 142 first-team selections and 140 second-team selections. Nearly all of those players had their names called on draft weekend, with just eight undrafted players earning All-Pro honors during that span.
The overwhelming majority of All-Pros come from the first round; 68 players taken in the first round accounted for 85 first-team selections and 75 second-team selections. You're most likely to find an All-Pro in the top half of the draft, with picks 1-16 accounting for 44 All-Pro players. If it seems fairly obvious to say that the higher a player is selected the better the odds they'll be an All-Pro, this next bit might surprise you. Over the last decade, a team is slightly more likely to find an All-Pro in the second round (28) compared to the back half of the first round (24).
The numbers predictably drop in the later rounds, but the fifth round (14) beats the fourth round (10), and the seventh round has produced more All-Pros than the sixth, which has not produced a single All-Pro player on offense or defense in more than a decade.
The defensive side of the ball has a bit more variety among its All-Pro selections. There have been an additional 10 drafted defensive players to earn All-Pro compared to offensive players. When including undrafted players, defense has an 81-67 edge overall. In total, there have been 2,820 players drafted since 2011. Roughly 5% of those players turn out to be All-Pros.
The NFL Draft starts in Mobile
The Senior Bowl has served as a key scouting tool for the Falcons under the guidance of Fontenot. In each of the four draft classes he has presided over, Atlanta has selected three or more players that made an appearance in Mobile, including Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Oregon defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus and Notre Dame linebacker JD Bertrand in 2024.
In total, the Falcons have picked 15 players from the Senior Bowl rosters with a particular focus on Day 3.
2024 Draft Class
- Michael Penix Jr. | Round 1
- Brandon Dorlus | Round 4
- JD Bertrand | Round 5
2023 Draft Class
- Matthew Bergeron | Round 2
- DeMarcco Hellams | Round 7
- Jovaughn Gwyn | Round 7
2022 Draft Class
- Arnold Ebiketie | Round 2
- Troy Andersen | Round 2
- Desmond Ridder | Round 3
- Justin Shaffer | Round 6
2021 Draft Class
- Darren Hall | Round 4
- TQ Graham | Round 5
- Ade Ogundeji | Round 5
- Frank Darby | Round 6
Which schools have produced the most Falcons?
Since the Falcons selected Tommy Nobis with the team's first-ever draft pick in 1966, Atlanta has drafted 630 total players. Well, 631 if you count the time the team tried to pick actor John Wayne in 1972.
Unfortunately, we can't count The Duke's Fort Apache State, which means Atlanta has picked players from 194 different schools. LSU leads the way with 13 selections from the Falcons. In what will certainly shock some, Georgia is tied for second (12) with Notre Dame, Southern California and Ohio State. The Falcons have also made double-digit selections from Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma, Stanford, Washington and Wisconsin.
| School | Players |
|---|---|
| LSU | 13 |
| Georgia | 12 |
| Notre Dame | 12 |
| Southern California | 12 |
| Ohio State | 12 |
Take a walk through Atlanta Falcons history with some of the top Falcons first round draft picks and their rookie seasons including legends like Steve Bartkowski, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan and more, presented by American Family Insurance.
FILE - In this Dec. 14, 1965, file photo, All-America Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis, left, and Rankin Smith, owner of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League announce Nobis' signing of a contract with the team in Austin, Texas on Dec. 14, 1965. Nobis, the first player ever drafted by Atlanta in 1966 and a hard-hitting linebacker who went on to spent his entire 11-year career with the team, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, after an extended illness, the team announced. He was 74. (AP Photo/File)
University of California quarterback Steve Bartkowski gets set to try on a helmet of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL in Atlanta before flying to New York for the NFL's Pro Football Draft, Jan. 28, 1975. Bartkowski will be the first round pick of the Falcons, who got the No. 1 first round pick in a recent trade with the Baltimore Colts. The Falcons traded their no. 3 picking spot and offensive tackle George Kunz for Baltimore's spot so they could be assured of drafting Bartkowski. (AP Photo/Joe Holloway Jr.)
Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Jerry Glanville during the 1992 NFL Draft. (Photo by Jimmy Cribb)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Bob Whitfield #70 and head coach Jerry Glanville during the 1992 NFL Draft. (Photo by Jimmy Cribb)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Bob Whitfield #70, head coach Jerry Glanville, and running back Tony Smith #28 during the 1992 NFL Draft. (Photo by Jimmy Cribb)
FILE - In this April 21, 2001, file photo, Michael Vick, right, of Virginia Tech, is presented with a jersey by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue after he was is chosen by the Atlanta Falcons as the No.1 pick at the NFL draft in New York. In the 13 years since his arrival as the fastest man on the field who also happened to have the best arm, Vick's impact has been felt in the way quarterbacks and offenses evolve in high school, college, and eventually, the pros. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, AUG. 25-26 -- FILE Quarterback Michael Vick of Virginia Tech holds up an Atlanta Falcons jersey after being picked No. 1 at the NFL draft in New York, in this April 21, 2001 file photo. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Micahel Vick speaks as fellow Virginia Tech alumni DeAngelo Hall, Bruce Smith, and football coach Frank Beamer look on during a news confrence before the NFL Draft Friday, April 27, 2007 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
FILE - In this April 26, 2008, file photo, Matt Ryan, a quarterback from Boston College, speaks at a news conference after being selected third overall by the Atlanta Falcons during fthe irst round of the NFL football draft in New York. Ryan has started all but three games over his 12-year career, earning four Pro Bowl appearances and the NFL's MVP award in 2016, when he led the Falcons to only the second Super Bowl appearance in team history. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
NEW YORK - APRIL 26: Matt Ryan shakes hands with National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodel after being selected third overall by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2008 NFL Draft on April 26, 2008 at Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, left, poses with Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons third pick, during the NFL Draft Saturday, April 26, 2008 in New York.(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Julio Jones poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Texas A&M tackle Jake Mattews poses for photos with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the sixth pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Thursday, May 8, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Texas A&M tackle Jake Mattews poses for photos after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the sixth pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Thursday, May 8, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Jake Matthews poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on May 8, 2014 in New York, NY. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Jake Matthews answers questions during an NFL football news conference at the team's headquarters Friday, May 9, 2014, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Matthews, an offensive lineman from Texas A&M, was the selected 6th overall in Thursday's NFL draft. (AP Photo/Jason Getz)
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Jake Matthews answers questions during an NFL news conference at the team's headquarters Friday, May 9, 2014, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Matthews, an offensive lineman from Texas A&M, was the selected 6th overall in Thursday's NFL draft. (AP Photo/Jason Getz)
Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Jake Matthews holds his jersey during an NFL news conference at the team's headquarters Friday, May 9, 2014, in Flowery Branch, Ga. Matthews, an offensive lineman from Texas A&M, was the selected 6th overall in Thursday's NFL draft. (AP Photo/Jason Getz)
Former Atlanta Falcons player Michael Vick gestures to Falcons fans as he announces Colorado's Isaiah Oliver as the team's pick during the second round of the NFL football draft Friday, April 27, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, right, holds a team jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Atlanta Falcons selected Pitts with the 4th pick in the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, right, holds a team jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Atlanta Falcons selected Pitts with the 4th pick in the first round of the NFL football draft Thursday April 29, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Florida tight end Kyle Pitts celebrates after being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons during the 2021 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 29, 2021 in Cleveland. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Southern California wide receiver Drake London, left, and Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the NFL, hold a team jersey after Drake London was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the 8th pick at the 2022 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Southern California wide receiver Drake London stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth pick of the NFL football draft Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Texas running back Bijan Robinson reacts after being selected during the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Kevin Sabitus/NFL)
Texas running back Bijan Robinson and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell pose for a photo during the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
Texas running back Bijan Robinson poses for a photo during the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Aaron Doster/NFL)
A Few FAQs
How many picks do the Falcons have this year?
Atlanta is scheduled to make five picks, which include each of its own selections in Rounds 1, 2 and 4 as well as two additional picks acquired via trade, both of which are in the seventh round.
How do compensatory picks work?
The NFL uses a complex formula, and we are tired of staring at Excel docs. Compensatory picks are awarded to "Clubs that lose to other Clubs a greater number of compensatory free agents than they sign or acquire from other Clubs."
How much time does each team have for each pick?
Each team has 10 minutes to make its pick in the first round on Thursday. The second and third rounds are on Friday; rounds 4-7 are on Saturday. Teams get seven minutes to make picks in the second round, five minutes for regular or compensatory picks in rounds 3-6 and four minutes in round 7.
If a team lets its time expire without making a choice, it can make a selection later, but it runs the risk of letting the next team on the clock take the player it was considering.
Where is it taking place?
The 90th annual NFL Draft will take place April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
How do rookie contracts work?
Every pick in the draft is awarded a four-year contract with a minimum and maximum he gets paid over the life of the deal and very few things can be negotiated. The maximum annual increase in salary in each of those first four years is 25 percent of the cap number in year one. That number is the sum of a prorated signing bonus, which varies, and the rookie minimum salary. All deals signed include a base salary and the remainder of the contract is done within those constraints. Teams have the option to pick up a fifth year on the rookie contracts of first-round picks but must do so before the fourth year of that deal officially begins. If that option is exercised, the fifth year is fully guaranteed. If a player is a top 10 pick, the fifth-year salary is the average of the 10 highest salaries for a player's position in the fourth year of his deal.
What is the highest the Falcons have picked in the NFL Draft?
Atlanta has made the first overall pick four times in club history, including selecting 'Mr. Falcon' linebacker Tommy Nobis first overall in 1966. Atlanta also picked quarterbacks Steve Bartkowski (1975) and Michael Vick (2001) with the top selection as well as linebacker Aundray Bruce (1988).
What is the latest the Falcons have picked in the NFL Draft?
In 1976 the Falcons selected Texas Tech defensive back Tony Green in the 17th round with the 468th overall pick. That year, the NFL draft consisted of 487 total selections – the most since the draft began in 1936.
