Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Georgia Bulldogs defensive end Jalon Walker is selected as the No. 15 pick by the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field.

The Atlanta Falcons face many questions as the NFL reaches the final month of the regular season.

Atlanta aimed for a playoff push in 2025 with a second year under coach Raheem Morris and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Things looked good early in the regular season as the Falcons won three of their first five games – including a 24-14 win in prime time over reigning AFC runner-up Buffalo.

Then things took a turn.

Atlanta has lost seven of its past eight games – including four by six points or less – and has been eliminated from playoff contention ahead of Week 15. Penix is out for the season with a torn ACL.

The Falcons face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football" to kick off this week's NFL action with no chance to fight for the division crown or a wild-card spot. Instead, they'll aim to play spoiler for the Buccaneers in their attempt to take another NFC South title.

A bright spot for the Falcons this year has been an improved pass defense. For the first time in years, Atlanta is getting after opposing quarterbacks with regularity. The Falcons rank sixth in the league in pressure rate at 25.7% and third in sacks with 43 entering Week 15 against Tampa Bay.

That improvement has come by committee. Three Falcons players have at least five sacks entering Week 15: Brandon Dorlus and rookies James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker. Seven more players have tallied at least two sacks as well.

But the Falcons might run into some trouble building on their defense in the offseason. They're without a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's why.

Why don't the Falcons have a first-round pick?

Atlanta traded away their first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Los Angeles Rams last year in order to select Pearce in the first round, No. 26 overall.

Here's a breakdown of the trade:

  • Atlanta received: No. 26 and No. 101 overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft
  • Los Angeles received: No. 46 and No. 242 overall picks in the 2025 NFL Draft as well as Atlanta's first-round pick in 2026

Atlanta used the No. 26 overall pick on Pearce. The Falcons later traded the No. 101 overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for No. 96 overall and a 2026 fifth-round selection. They used that pick to select safety Xavier Watts who has started every game this season and leads the team in interceptions (3).

The Rams selected tight end Terrance Ferguson at No. 46 overall and wide receiver Konata Mumpfield at No. 242. The two have combined for 10 catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns through 13 games.

Atlanta Falcons 2026 NFL Draft picks

Because of their trade with the Rams during the 2025 draft, their first-round pick is heading to Los Angeles. It's projected to be a top-10 selection entering Week 15.

Atlanta is slated to have just five total selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here's where they currently stand at time of publishing:

  • Round 2, No. 42 overall
  • Round 3, No. 73 overall
  • Round 4, No. 110 overall
  • Round 6, No. 190 overall
  • Round 7, No. 224 overall

If the Falcons want to improve on both sides of the ball in 2026, they'll have to hope for in-house development or rely more on free agency than building through the draft.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why don't the Falcons have a first round pick? 2026 NFL Draft picks

Reporting by Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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