The Atlanta Falcons need pure speed, and the 2026 NFL Draft offers the perfect solution. Former general manager Terry Fontenot built a physical offense that now requires a vertical threat to stretch opposing defenses. PFSN draft analyst Jacob Infante recently connected Atlanta to the fastest man in this entire draft class.
Brenen Thompson Brings Elite Speed to the Atlanta Falcons
Mississippi State wide receiver Brenen Thompson completely changed his draft trajectory after ripping off a blistering 4.26-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Infante did not mince words about the electric playmaker’s raw traits in his latest mock draft projection.
“To the surprise of very few, least of all me, Brenen Thompson ran the fastest 40-yard dash at this year’s Combine,” Infante wrote. “He’s undersized and lacks ideal physicality, but he’s an incredible athlete with elite deep speed and scary shiftiness with the ball in his hands.”
Thompson’s collegiate journey required plenty of patience. He struggled to find consistent snaps at both Texas and Oklahoma early in his career. A strategic transfer to Mississippi State for the 2025 season finally unlocked his true potential against grueling SEC competition. Last season, he was ranked 13th in PFSN’s CFB WR Impact Metrics with a score of 82.4.
The PFSN Mock Draft Simulator captured his breakout senior campaign perfectly in its official scouting report: “Brenen Thompson will satiate teams that have a need for speed in the 2026 NFL Draft. Thompson boasts a blistering 100-meter dash record of 10.18 seconds, which serves as a direct representation of his on-field speed.”
“While he struggled to produce consistently at Texas and Oklahoma through his first three seasons, he effectively broke out with Mississippi State in 2025, accruing 57 catches for 1,054 yards and six touchdowns, as well as a strong PFSN WR Impact score of 82.4.”
How Thompson Fits the Atlanta Falcons’ Offense
The glaring question mark surrounding Thompson involves his slight frame. He weighed in at just 164 pounds at the combine, meaning NFL cornerbacks will inevitably try to press him at the line of scrimmage.
The scouting report addressed these concerns directly: “With Thompson weighing in at just 170 pounds, there will be questions about his frame translates at the next level. Nevertheless, he contends well as a ball-tracker and body-control artist on the vertical plane, and he has the stem IQ and fluidity to create separation not just with his speed, but with nuance in tighter spaces.”
“His lighter frame naturally limits his appeal withstanding contact in the RAC, but as a vertical catalyst, multi-level separator, and open-field RAC threat, he holds merit as a potential Top 100 pick.”
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Atlanta provides the perfect infrastructure to protect a player with his exact dimensions. The Falcons already force defenses to dedicate heavy resources to stopping established playmakers like Drake London and Bijan Robinson. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees can easily scheme free releases for Thompson from the slot or in pre-snap motion.
Adding a 4.26 speedster to that mix alters the mathematical equation for opposing defensive coordinators. The Falcons have a clear opportunity to acquire a unique weapon capable of altering divisional game plans.
