Zachariah Branch is a wide receiver from Georgia projected to be selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. This comprehensive scouting report analyzes Branch’s draft potential, current mock draft trends, and where he ranks among the top prospects.
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Zachariah Branch’s NFL Draft Potential
Zachariah Branch is a prestigious talent on the college football stage. He was a consensus five-star recruit and top-10 talent overall in the 2023 class, and made an instant impact upon signing with the USC Trojans.
As a true freshman, Branch’s dynamic ability became a top national story. He found the end zone three times on the offensive side of the ball, but also returned a kick return and punt return for a touchdown as well, winning the Jet Award for CFB’s best return man and establishing his place as an electric playmaker. USC scaled him back as a return man and utilized him more on offense in 2024, and the results were respectable, but Branch ultimately transferred to Georgia — eager to maintain a productive role while competing for CFB Playoff real estate.
Thus far in 2025, Branch has embarked on his best year yet as an offensive playmaker. In eight games, he has 45 catches for 474 yards and two touchdowns, and is on pace for career highs in all categories. As of this writing, Branch has stacked up 27 catches for 240 yards over the past three weeks — accentuating his potential as a target funnel and schemed-touch weapon.
That versatility is at the heart of Branch’s profile. At a wiry-built 5’10”, 180 pounds, with hyper-elite explosiveness, foot speed, short-area twitch, ingrained spatial intelligence, and max speeds of over 23 MPH (per Feldman’s Freaks), Branch is a weapon with the ball in his hands. He can make instant RAC transitions and make defenders miss in space, then rocket up creases with his gear-shift ability — but he’s quietly a complete WR at his size, too.
He’s very unproven against press, which may limit his projection to a hybrid-slot role, but he understands how to stem off-man and zone defenders, he has great zone feel, and he flashes high-level body control and contortion ability as a catcher, with the supercharged vertical ability to high-point tough balls.
If Branch declares for the 2026 NFL Draft, his testing and special teams value will help him immensely, and although limited boundary utility will restrict his team and schematic fits, he can be a versatile and dynamic weapon in the right place.
CFB Week 11 Update
Branch was exceptional in Georgia’s Week 11 game against Mississippi State, racking up eight catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. The TD play was something we’ve come to expect from Branch: An explosive RAC play in which Branch used his hyper-elite explosive capacity to stretch the seam. But Branch also showcased his efficient separation ability and size-defying body control and catch-point authority. Branch will be mischaracterized as a gadget player by some, but he’s quietly grown into a relatively complete receiving presence.
Where Is Branch Being Selected Most Often in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator?
Branch currently holds the No. 129 overall rank among prospects, reflecting his standing among mid-round prospects. His most recent Average Draft Position (ADP) of 132.2 as of November 11 reflects that he is typically being selected in the middle rounds.
This small gap between rank and ADP suggests he’s consistently valued among evaluators, even amid fluctuations in player evaluations at this stage of the draft cycle.
Users controlling the Atlanta Falcons have been the team that selected Branch the most frequently over the past week, accounting for 1.5% of their picks across all seven rounds.
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Where Does Zachariah Branch Rank Amongst Other NFL Draft Prospects?
Branch is currently outside the top 100 in my October big board but remains an intriguing prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft. Rankings are updated monthly as the college football season progresses and more scouting information becomes available.
Want to see how we rank all the draft prospects in the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator? Check out our NFL Draft Prospect Rankings page, which includes more than 750 prospects.
