The Atlanta Falcons announced on May 7 that they have signed wide receiver Zachariah Branch to his rookie contract.
Branch was selected with the No. 79 overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He will join a group of receivers that includes Drake London and recent free agent signings Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus.
Branch’s rookie deal is estimated at $7.09 million, with a cap number starting at $1.28 million in 2026 and reaching $2.25 million by 2029, according to OverTheCap.com. In his final college season at the University of Georgia, Branch started ten games out of fourteen played, recording 81 catches for 811 yards and six touchdowns. He earned Second Team All-SEC honors in 2025 and led the Southeastern Conference in receptions.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said, “He really has a great schematic fit, also a great personal fit for what we believe in and how hard he works. Just a player that you can really line up all over the field. If you go back and watch his tape over the course of his different stops and the way he was utilized, I think there’s a ton of versatility there. Also, he provides value in the return game, which is no small thing.” Daniel Jeremiah from NFL Network added, “He’s at his best with the ball in his hands. He’s elusive and has dynamic long speed. He’s also electric as a kick returner. He was a track champion in high school and it shows on the field. Branch can make big plays out of simple throws, which will make him attractive to NFL offensive coordinators.” General manager Ian Cunningham said about Branch: “I think you get that when you sit across from Zachariah. You talk to him, you understand what he’s about, how passionate he is about this game. He loves this game and he loves to be out there and working in practice. Coaches appreciate those type of guys that bring it every single day.”
The Atlanta Falcons compete in the National Football League’s NFC South division as an Atlanta-based team founded as an expansion franchise in 1965; they reached Super Bowls twice—in 1998 and again in 2016—and are represented by mascot Freddie the Falcon according to their official website.
Observers will be watching how quickly Branch adapts to professional play as he joins other new additions aiming to strengthen Atlanta’s receiving corps.