FLOWERY BRANCH — The dust has started to settle on the NFL draft, which was packed with drama and pageantry as 600,000 fans jammed in the tiny city of Green Bay, Wisconsin for league’s offseason pole-tent event.
Here are five events that marked the draft:
1. Falcons bring the drama: Last year, the Falcons flipped the draft off the table by drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eight overall pick after they signed Kirk Cousins in free agency.
This year, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot wanted a second pick in the first round and made a trade with the Rams, giving up their 2026 first-round pick and their second pick this year to select edge rusher James Pearce Jr., the player they’d planned to select at No. 15 before they knew that linebacker Jalon Walker would be available. The Falcons also received a fourth-round pick this year from the Rams.