The Falcons’ Week 1 loss to the Steelers did more than leave them 0-1. It also put Atlanta in an early spot in the 2027 NFL Draft picture, where the team is currently sitting with the No. 5 overall pick after opening the season with a 20-13 defeat in Pittsburgh.
Atlanta had to navigate last year without its first-round pick, but that won’t be an issue in 2027 unless there’s another major trade. For now, the Falcons are positioned in a place that could eventually matter if Cooper Rush remains the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future.
At the top of the current draft order, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the No. 1 slot, with the New York Jets listed second via the Green Bay Packers. The Carolina Panthers are third, and the Houston Texans are fourth, with Atlanta right behind them at No. 5.
Here’s how the 2027 NFL Draft order looks entering Week 2:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)
New York Jets (via GB)
Carolina Panthers (0-1)
Houston Texans (0-1)
Atlanta Falcons (0-1)
New York Jets (via Indy)
Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
Cleveland Browns (0-1)
Tennessee Titans (0-1)
Los Angeles Chargers (0-1)
Washington Commanders (0-1)
Denver Broncos (0-1)
Cleveland Browns (via LAR)
Miami Dolphins (0-1)
New England Patriots (0-1)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
New York Giants (1-0)
Minnesota Vikings (1-0)
New Orleans Saints (0-1)
Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)
Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
Detroit Lions (1-0)
Buffalo Bills (1-0)
Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Baltimore Ravens (1-0)
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)
Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
New York Jets (1-0)
Chicago Bears (1-0)
Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)
Arizona Cardinals (1-0)
That standing won’t last long if Atlanta gets a win Sunday. The Falcons can slide way down the board with a victory over the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In Other News...
Falcons Suddenly Have A Backfield Depth Problem They Created
The Falcons running back room took an unexpected hit this week when the Cowboys signed Tyler Goodson off Atlantas practice squad and onto their active 53-man roster after losing Malik Davis to injury. Goodson had been waived by Atlanta after a strong preseason, a move that left the team thin behind its top backs and opened the door for another club to swoop in.
Now Atlanta is left with rookie Cash Jones as its only running back on the practice squad, and the front office may need to move quickly to restore some depth. Goodson had been in position to compete for a role behind Javonte Williams and Emari Demercado in Dallas, but the more immediate concern for the Falcons is the self-inflicted vacancy they now have to patch before it becomes a bigger issue. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Pitts Is Already Putting Falcons Quarterback Problem Under Pressure
Kyle Pitts new deal made it clear the Falcons still view him as one of the central pieces of the offense, but the season opener offered a reminder that his production is still tied closely to who is throwing him the ball. In the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pitts was targeted only once and did not record a reception while Cooper Rush handled the start at quarterback, a quiet night for a player Atlanta is counting on much more heavily.
The larger issue for the Falcons is less about Pitts himself than the uncertainty around the quarterback room. Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa are both dealing with injuries and are expected back soon, and Pitts early line only underscores how much the offense needs stability under center. Until that settles, the Falcons may keep feeling the strain of trying to make a top weapon work through an unsettled passing game. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Face An Early Cam Ward Concern
The first week of the 2026 NFL season did not exactly settle much for the teams still circling the quarterback conversation, and Atlanta is among the ones still feeling the ripple effects. The Falcons entered the year with an uncertain setup under center, as Cooper Rush and Michael Penix Jr. both sit inside a broader picture that leaves the position looking anything but finalized.
That matters because the early struggles around the league can quickly push teams toward bigger decisions, and the 2027 draft is already part of that conversation for several quarterback-needy clubs. Atlanta is in that mix with a group that also includes Cleveland, Miami and Tennessee, where Cam Ward is one name to watch if the Titans decide their current path needs another turn, though nothing in this stage makes any of those outcomes certain. [Read more 🡒]