UGA Football WR Zachariah Branch Picked No. 79 Overall by Atlanta in the 2026 NFL Draft

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Former Georgia Bulldog wide receiver Zachariah Branch was selected No. 79 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. 

After two seasons at USC, Branch decided to transfer to Georgia for his junior season. That decision ended up being extremely beneficial for both parties. Branch was the most productive wide receiver that Georgia has had in a very long time, and his standout season helped secure him a spot as a high draft selection. 

Kirby Smart has been criticised for his scarcer use of the transfer portal compared to other programs, but he has brought in a few key players through that avenue over the years. None have been more impactful than Branch was in 2025. 

Branch was instantly the top wideout for the Dawgs and Gunner Stockton’s favorite target. His 81 receptions last season are the most by a pass-catcher in school history for a single season. No other player for the Dawgs cracked the 30-catch mark. He turned those receptions into 811 yards and six scores. 

A former five-star prospect and the top wide receiver in the 2023 recruiting class, Branch was primarily used as a gadget player and on special teams on Lincoln Riley’s squad. His decision to leave for Athens ended up being a very fruitful one. He made game-changing plays on some of the biggest stages.
In an overtime shootout against Tennessee, Branch caught a 36-yard touchdown and a 2-point conversion. He scored the dagger touchdown in the SEC Championship against Alabama. He was a third-down machine that torched the zones of Florida’s defense.

Georgia lacked dynamic offensive weapons in 2024. Branch solved that problem for the Dawgs, and a big performance in his UGA debut against Marshall last August let everyone know that Georgia yet again had an explosive playmaker. So much so that the 2026 team has a lot of questions to answer in his absence. 

Branch’s role can be dynamic at the NFL level. He can be used in the punt and kick return game in addition to playing wide receiver and taking touch passes behind the line of scrimmage. Some were surprised when he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, thinking he might run in the 4.2s. While 4.36 is very, very fast, it is his shiftiness and change of direction that is elite and what will be a primary driver in his success level in the league.