The Atlanta Falcons are already trying to figure out how to fill several areas of need as Kevin Stefanski takes over in his first season as head coach, and the 2026 NFL Draft is fast approaching. But on Wednesday, they learned the news that another significant need will be felt along the offensive line with the retirement of right tackle Kaleb McGary.
McGary made his retirement official with just over two weeks before the draft, giving the Falcons yet another position to potentially address with only five total selections in this year's event.
McGary was the Falcons first-round choice in the 2019 NFL Draft, and he became an instant long-term fixture at the position for six consecutive seasons. However, a preseason injury robbed him of his entire 2025 campaign and he was already 31 years old heading into a new season.
Last year, if you'll remember, the Falcons dealt their first-round pick for Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce. The on-field results were exciting for Atlanta after watching him finish third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting with 10.5 sacks in his first campaign. Unfortunately, those red flags for character that were apparent before the draft caught up with him as he faces multiple felonies, including battery charges with a deadly weapon.
The Chiefs sit in a sweet spot in the draft order where the Falcons will likely want to be—if they're willing to pay for it.
That deal gave the Rams two first-round choices for this year, which allowed them to trade for cornerback Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs. It also leaves the Falcons without a good way to replace McGary and get the line back on track for Stefanski's offensive hopes.
All of this is important because the Chiefs sit at an important point in the draft order for a team like the Falcons. Atlanta only has four selections, but they might want to think about making the same sort of move they did last year in order to secure a first-round choice in 2026 to help replace what they've lost up front.
The Chiefs have been linked to offensive tackle prospects at the bottom of the second round, when a run on the second-tier of players available should take place. Utah's Caleb Lomu or Clemson's Blake Miller or Arizona State's Max Iheanachor could all be there for the taking for some team looking for right tackle help. It might be in K.C.'s best interest to lock up the right side for the next half decade, but if a team like the Falcons were to make it worth their while to slide out, that becomes an interesting route to consider.
What if the Falcons were to include a future first-round choice and a later pick for a slide down the draft order so they could secure McGary's replacement? Yes, the Chiefs need prospects as well, and that No. 29 pick could be a nice cornerback, wide receiver, or edge rusher. That said, the Chiefs could also take advantage of a team's desperation and get greater long-term value in exchange for their patient approach.
The truth is that if a team really wants to lock in a solid right tackle in this year's draft class, that spot where the Chiefs hold their second of two first-round picks is the ideal range. Whether it's the Falcons or someone else trying to get ahead of other franchises like the New England Patriots for such a player, it might be worth paying a bit more to convince Brett Veach to trade it away.