Top 2026 NFL Prospect Arrested Four Days Before the Draft
One of the top wide receiver prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft class, Zachariah Branch, was arrested on Sunday on two misdemeanor charges.
According to ESPN, Branch was arrested in Athens, Georgia, in the early hours of Sunday morning for obstructing public sidewalks/streets and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero released a copy of the police report. The arresting officer stated that Branch ignored multiple commands to move away from the sidewalk:
"Due to those actions and Zacharia(h) Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks."
NFL Network has obtained the police report on the misdemeanor charges against Zachariah Branch, who was arrested while standing on a public sidewalk for not moving far enough when a police officer asked him to move:
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 19, 2026
“A male, later identified as Zacharia Branch, continued to… https://t.co/LMyQ7QHYLc
Per ESPN, Branch posted a $39 bond and was released at 3:44 a.m. local time.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It begins on Thursday and runs through Sunday. Including compensatory draft picks, 257 players will be selected over the seven rounds.
Zachariah Branch Is Among the Top Wide Receivers Prospects in 2026 NFL Draft
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
This year's NFL Draft class is considered weak on the quarterback position, but it's certainly deep at wide receiver. USC's Makai Lemon, Ohio State's Carnell Tate and Arizona State's are the consensus top three receivers for the 2026 class.
While those three carry plenty of hype, the second and third-tier WR prospects are also strong. ESPN ranks Branch as the No. 7 wide receiver in the class, with analyst Matt Miller comparing him to Kansas City Chiefs standout Xavier Worthy.
After two seasons at USC, the 22-year-old Branch joined the Georgia Bulldogs in 2026. He had the best season of his college career, catching 81 passes for 811 yards and six touchdowns.
Branch helped the Bulldogs advance to the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, where they fell 39-34 to Ole Miss. He earned a Second-team All-SEC selection.