One of the bigger needs the Atlanta Falcons had going into the 2026 NFL Draft was at linebacker. The Falcons decided to double up at this spot, taking Oklahoma's Kendal Daniels in the fourth round and later Harold Perkins Jr. from LSU in the sixth.
Even though they didn't like Atlanta's class much overall, Daniels has been singled out as a solid pick by Pro Football Focus. Perkins is also getting some love from the media, with ESPN's Field Yates naming him one of his favorite picks from the sixth round of the draft.
"The hardest question to answer about Perkins throughout the predraft process was whether he would play off-ball linebacker or edge rusher in the NFL. Either way, this is strong value for Atlanta this late in the sixth round. Perkins played all over for LSU during his college career, showcasing electric speed and open-field movement skills. He has some pass rush and coverage ability that will travel to the NFL. At the very least, he can be a factor on special teams."
Perkins (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) put in 43 games at LSU, posting 17 sacks, 35.5 tackles for a loss, five interceptions and eight forced fumbles.
Atlanta needed depth at both spots, so deciding whether Perkins should be playing on the edge or off the ball is a good problem to have for new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Field Yates at ESPN singles out Harold Perkins as fifth-round favorite
