Falcons CB A.J. Terrell 'Bouncing Back' in 2023?
If Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder takes a major step forward in his second NFL season, he'll be at the forefront of an exciting young offensive core, along with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Falcons are attempting to build through their secondary, and while offseason lists typically focus on offensive players, cornerback A.J. Terrell is a primary bounce-back candidate in 2023.
As noted on Pro Football Focus, Terrell had a relatively disappointing third season after he was a second-team All-Pro in 2021. According to PFF, Terrell had an 85.6 coverage grade (on a 0-100 scale) in 2021, but saw his mark dip after he allowed nine touchdowns in 2022. The always-controversial outlet still ranked him as their No. 12 cornerback entering the 2023 season.
The 24-year-old's fifth-year option has already been exercised, but his performance in 2023 will likely determine whether general manager Terry Fontenot -- who inherited the former first-round pick -- looks to extend him beyond his rookie deal.
Fontenot made a major investment in the defensive backfield this offseason, signing former Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III to a four-year, $64 million deal, guaranteeing him $36 million. The Falcons also bought low on former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah, who the Detroit Lions traded for a fifth-round pick. Okudah is expected to start across from Terrell, and if the latter returns to the form he showed two years ago, Atlanta might have something special brewing in their secondary.
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