The Falcons didn’t need long to feel good about Avieon Terrell, and through six games, the second-round pick is making that decision look sharper by the week.
Atlanta grabbed Terrell with the 48th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft after some fans labeled the selection nepotism because of his famous last name. But Ian Cunningham and the front office saw something different: a rare chance to lock in a corner they didn’t want to move off of, even with only five picks and no first-rounder.
Terrell had the look of a first-round talent, but an injury in the pre-draft process hurt his testing and pushed him down the board. The production at Clemson - including a program record for forced fumbles by a defensive back - and the fact that he’s basically a carbon copy of his big brother made the value too strong to ignore.
That faith has paid off early. Terrell has already shown the traits that made him appealing in college, especially the ability to handle work both inside and outside.
He’s tackled with force, but his real edge has shown up in coverage, where he’s been sticky at the line of scrimmage and has avoided giving up the big play. Through six weeks, that part of his game has stood out even more.
Pro Football Focus says only seven rookie cornerbacks have logged more than 150 coverage snaps over that span, and Terrell has been the best of the group. He owns the top passer rating allowed among them at 75, and he’s given up just nine completions on 14 targets in 2026.
For Cunningham, that’s a major win in a class that has already delivered several. But Terrell looks like one of the most important picks of the group because he’s starting to look like a long-term answer in the secondary, not just another rookie filling a spot.
The Falcons have also begun using him like more than a standard nickel. He opened his NFL career inside, but over the last couple of games, Atlanta has leaned on him more at corner on the boundary, especially after Billy Bowman Jr. returned in Week 3.
Across the last four games, Terrell has played 148 snaps on the outside, including 63 in the loss to the Bears when he started in place of C.J. Henderson.
That usage says plenty about how the staff views him. Terrell has forced turnovers, attacked the ball like a junkyard dog and played bigger than his 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. Just as important, he’s shown the same kind of ability his brother has to take a receiver out of a game.
And now the Falcons are getting close to having the older Terrell back, too. A.J.
Terrell has missed the last four weeks on injured reserve after suffering a groin injury in Week 2 against the Panthers, but his return window has opened. He has been designated to return to practice and has a chance to play Sunday against the 49ers.
Atlanta has made it clear it won’t rush him back, especially with confidence growing in the younger Terrell on the outside. Jeff Ulbrich has said the team values Avieon’s versatility, but also believes his future in the league likely belongs on the boundary.
That could set up a rare sight for the Falcons: two Terrell brothers starting together on the outside. Mike Hughes has struggled in coverage, Henderson has been a pleasant surprise, and Avieon’s ceiling gives him a strong case for more playing time even after A.J. returns. If that happens, the Falcons could line up with one brother on each side of the formation - the kind of setup most NFL players only dream about.
For now, the reason Avieon slipped was prospect fatigue and a tweaked hamstring. Atlanta is living with the payoff, and the more snaps he gets, the better that draft night call looks for Cunningham and the Falcons.
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