Why Kendall Daniels may be the steal of draft for Falcons
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The Dukes & Bell podcast discusses the Atlanta Falcons' 2026 NFL Draft, focusing on their selection of linebacker Kendall Daniels in the fourth round. Hosts Mike and Day-Day critique the mixed reception of the draft, particularly ESPN's C+ grade, which penalizes the team for trading away their 2026 first-round pick—despite the impact of their 2025 pass rusher who recorded 10.5 sacks. They argue the Falcons made a strategic move by trading back to secure Daniels, a versatile linebacker with elite range and athleticism who grew from a defensive freshman of the year into a 240-pound hybrid player. The hosts highlight his potential to thrive under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, drawing comparisons to past impact players like Ray Lewis and Earl Thomas. They also praise the team’s depth additions, including Ontario Thompson and Harold Perkins, and express optimism about the roster’s flexibility and development potential. The episode underscores the importance of player fit, growth, and long-term development over immediate draft grades.
Kendall Daniels is a high-upside linebacker with elite range and athleticism who grew significantly in college, making him a potential steal in the fourth round.
The Falcons’ decision to trade back to select Daniels was strategic, prioritizing a player they believed would be unavailable later in the draft.
Jeff Ulbrich’s track record with developing linebackers suggests Daniels could thrive in Atlanta’s defensive scheme.
The team’s draft grade should not be judged solely on pick value—impact players like their 2025 sack leader justify the trade.
Undrafted free agents and late-round picks can still become key contributors, as seen with past Falcons stars like Jesse Tuggle and Brian Poole.
Opening: Draft Talk & Dog Nation Guest
The hosts kick off the episode with a welcome and introduce Connor Riley from Dog Nation, who will discuss drafted dogs and their team fits.
Draft Grades & Team Strategy
“ESPN has us graded as a C+. Come on. Penalizing us for trading away the 2026 draft pick. Are you serious? Oh, no, you didn't. The guy has 10 1⁄2 sacks and has now, knock wood, navigated his legal entanglements. He helped us to the second most sacks in the NFL. Yeah.”
Kendall Daniels: The Draft Steal
“He was the Big 12 defensive freshman of the year and then grew into doing this incredible linebacker. Now he's 240 pounds, Mike, playing linebacker with range and athleticism. All of a sudden you're like, okay, he's way better.”
Future Development & Team Depth
The discussion turns to the Falcons’ long-term roster development, including undrafted free agents and late-round picks, with optimism about their ability to produce impact players.
“ESPN has us graded as a C+. Come on. Penalizing us for trading away the 2026 draft pick. Are you serious? Oh, no, you didn't. The guy has 10 1⁄2 sacks and has now, knock wood, navigated his legal entanglements. He helped us to the second most sacks in the NFL. Yeah.”
“When you add a safety like Earl Thomas to Seattle, change the defense. Because now I can do all this stuff with him, right? And that is kind of when you have that player, Mike.”
“He was the Big 12 defensive freshman of the year and then grew into doing this incredible linebacker. Now he's 240 pounds, Mike, playing linebacker with range and athleticism. All of a sudden you're like, okay, he's way better.”
Hosts
Atlanta Falcons
other
Kendall Daniels
person
Jeff Ulbrich
person
University of Oklahoma
organization
Earl Thomas
person
Ray Lewis
person
Ontario Thompson
person
Brian Poole
person
Jesse Tuggle
person
Dan Quinn
person
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