Falcons Sign Cornerback A.J. Terrell To Four-Year, $81 Million Deal

The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly signing A.J. Terrell to a four-year, $81 million deal, keeping the star cornerback with the team at a potential turning point. Atlanta has now secured three top defenders in two weeks, cementing its status as a playoff contender this season.

Terrell, who has spent his entire four-year career in Atlanta, will soon be the second-highest paid cornerback in the league, behind the Packers’ Jaire Alexander. After stepping up to challenges early in his career, the young star has gained a reputation as a lockdown corner. Quarterbacks typically avoid him entirely now, but the Falcons have done plenty of work repairing weak links around him ahead of 2024.

Atlanta’s off-season will be best remembered for some radical changes to the offense. Sending away Desmond Ridder, the team signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to lead a young core with legitimate star power, including running back Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London.

But while the Falcons are shooting up experts’ power rankings because of Cousins’ arrival, the team didn’t stop there. Last week, Atlanta signed safety Justin Simmons and traded for linebacker Matthew Judon, acquiring two veteran defenders with multiple Pro Bowl appearances between them.

The team has also extended 27-year-old safety Jessie Bates III, who made six interceptions in his first season with the team last year. Terrell, Bates and Simmons will all appear in the same secondary this season. Locking down Terrell and uniting him with sharp veterans could radically change Atlanta’s defensive outlook for the better.

Last season, the Falcons’ primary issue was that leadership did not seem capable of handling the team’s young talent. Former head coach Arthur Smith did not give a full workload to Robinson, while Pitts and London were held back by poor quarterback play. The defense was solid but suffered lapses during grinding games.

With head coach Raheem Morris at the helm and Cousins under center, however, it seems like the entire organization has immediately entered win-now mode. A meandering roster now seems capable of taking on anyone in the league, and players like Terrell could factor into very big games for the team for years to come.