Why Alabama CB Terrion Arnold Makes Sense for Atlanta Falcons in NFL Draft

Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold officially visited the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.

The Atlanta Falcons have several options with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the final decision may ultimately come down to the age-old debate of pass rusher vs. coverage.

Atlanta's hosted several highly rated prospects at those spots for official 30 visits, including Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner, Florida State defensive end Jared Verse and Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

It's time to add another name to the list.

Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold visited Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch on Tuesday, he shared via his Instagram story.

Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold (DB02) works out during the NFL Combine.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Arnold, who just turned 21 years old on March 22, was a first-team All-American selection by the Associated Press and earned first-team All-SEC honors by the league's coaches this past season.

The 6-0, 189-pound Arnold arrived in Tuscaloosa as a highly touted recruit, rated as a 5-star by 247sports and composite 4-star by all other outlets, but he redshirted as a true freshman in 2021.

Arnold broke through in 2022, as he was recognized as a freshman All-American and made the freshman All-SEC team after compiling 45 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception across 11 games with seven starts.

The Tallahassee, Florida, native followed with a stout 2023 campaign, leading the SEC with five interceptions while tying for the conference lead with 17 passes defended. He added 63 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 12 pass breakups.

Arnold, who ran a 4.5 40-yard dash and logged jumps of 37" in the vertical and 10'9" in the broad, is rated as the best defensive player in the draft by NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah.

The NFL.Com player comp for Arnold? New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore - who was selected No. 11 overall in 2017 by a front office that included now-Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, meeting with reporters March 26 at the annual league meetings, spoke highly of Atlanta's cornerbacks surrounding former All-Pro A.J. Terrell, including Clark Phillips III, Dee Alford and Mike Hughes.

But Morris also foreshadowed the Falcons adding youth to their cornerbacks room this fall.

"We'll add some more people to that room, some more young pieces, but what I've seen on tape, I've been excited," Morris said. "I know it's an area of need for us, so to speak. But those guys played pretty well last year when you go back and look at the tape and how they played out there."

Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake said his vision for this defense is to be fast, physical and free-flowing; regardless of position, he wants players who can get off blocks and be physical at the point of contact.

And Arnold, by all accounts, checks those boxes.

"Twitchy man-cover corner with outstanding athletic ability and the skill set to bring in ball production at the professional level," NFL.Com writes. "Arnold possesses average size but plays with a desired level of aggression and competitiveness in both phases of his job."

Arnold is both scheme and position versatile, as he can play man and zone while being aligned inside and outside. In Atlanta, he'd serve primarily as a No. 2 corner on the outside opposite Terrell, bringing the defense the young piece Morris referenced.

And come April 25, it's possible the idea of an Arnold-Terrell partnership becomes reality.