The Falcons had no concerns over Zachariah Branch’s draft-week arrest before taking him in the third round on Friday night.
Both general manager Ian Cunningham and coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters the arrest and charge for two misdemeanors — obstructing a public sidewalk and obstruction of a law enforcement official — didn’t impact their thinking on Branch.
“When you sit across from him, you understand what he’s about,” Stefanski told reporters. “He’s passionate about this game. he loves this game. Coaches appreciate those type of guys who bring the juice every single day.
“… We have spent a lot of time with him, the coaches have. He is a great schematic fit and also a great personal fit for what we believe in and how hard he works. He’s a player you can line up all over the field.”
Branch, a receiver who played two years at USC before transferring to Georgia last year, was arrested early Sunday morning in Athens, Ga.
A police report said that after an officer gave “multiple verbal commands” to move from the sidewalk, Branch continued to stand there.
“I continued to give Zachariah Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk,” the report continued. “Zachariah Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business.”
Georgia’s football program has become notorious for how many of its players have been arrested, particularly on driving-related charges, though that stipulation does not apply to Branch.
Branch finished last season with 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns with the Bulldogs last season.