NFL Draft Day 2 Big Board: 10 Players Falcons Could Take, Including Brian Branch

From trading to prospects of interest, a look at what Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft could have in store for the Atlanta Falcons.

The first-round of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books, with the Atlanta Falcons nabbing Texas running back Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall.

While Atlanta had other needs, Robinson proved to be the cleanest, highest-rated player available, and Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith stayed true to their board.

The question now becomes who the Falcons will add around Robinson throughout the rest of the draft, starting Friday night, with the team holding picks Nos. 44 and 75.

It's possible the Falcons don't finish the night with two players, considering that Fontenot reportedly tried to move up into the later portion of the first round and has yet to stay in his scheduled second-round slot through two drafts as general manager.

How does the selection of Robinson alter draft plans? Fontenot spoke of the various factors of second-round trade possibilities earlier this week.

"It's a domino effect," Fontenot said. "Whoever you take, then you can decide, 'do we want to move back at this next pick? Do we want to move up?' You look at a particular position and say this position is a little thin and so we need to move up to get a player there, because when we're on the clock, we're not going to reach, we want to take the best player off the board. 

"Whatever you do, it's going to affect you moving around."

With Robinson secured, who could the Falcons target on Day 2? Here's a look ...

Brian Branch, Safety, Alabama

Branch grew up a short drive away from Atlanta and had a formal meeting and top-30 visit with the Falcons this offseason. He projects nicely as a nickel in the NFL and would fill a need for the team he grew up cheering for.

Keion White, Defensive End, Georgia Tech

White is highly thought of by Atlanta's coaching staff and at 6-5, 285 pounds, fits the bill of big-bodied defensive ends that new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen prefers.

Jonathan Mingo, Receiver, Ole Miss

There are few receivers who check as many boxes for the Falcons as Mingo, the 6-2, 220-pound wideout who's praised for his high character and willingness to block in addition to run-after-catch potential.

John Michael Schmitz, Interior Offensive Lineman, Minnesota

Arguably the best interior lineman in the class, Schmitz can play either guard or center; he's viewed primarily as a center but would likely start at left guard in Atlanta. He's smart, tough and very mobile, giving him a chance to be an impact player from Day 1.

Cam Smith, Cornerback, South Carolina

Smith worked out privately for Smith and Fontenot and is someone the Falcons reportedly have shown interest in throughout the pre-draft process.

Matthew Bergeron, Offensive Guard, Syracuse

Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford traveled to Syracuse for Bergeron's pro day, and the fleet-footed collegiate tackle is a strong fit in Atlanta's wide-zone offense. He played tackle for the Orange but some believe he's best suited to play guard in the NFL, making him a solid alternative if Schmitz is off the board.

Cody Mauch, Offensive Guard, North Dakota State

Similarly to Bergeron, Mauch is a college tackle who can really move and would be a logical left guard for the Falcons.

Adetomiwa Adebawore, Defensive Lineman, Northwestern

Adebawore is an athletic specimen, clocking a 4.49 40-yard dash at 6-2, 282 pounds and has the ability to play up and down the line of scrimmage. His build and play style fits exactly what Nielsen's looking for.

Tyler Scott, Receiver, Cincinnati

We've reported that Scott's camp feels as if Atlanta's a strong possibility due to his vertical presence and relationship with quarterback Desmond Ridder. The Falcons have done a lot of work on smaller, shiftier players, and UNC's Josh Downs is another to keep an eye on - more as a second-round pick while Scott is likely a third.

Trey Palmer, Receiver, Nebraska

Palmer led college football in receptions of 70-plus yards this past season with three and is one of the most explosive wideouts in the class, making him a fine fit in Round 3 for a Falcons offense still looking for speed on the perimeter.

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You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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