The Atlanta Falcons selected Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell in the 2026 NFL Draft, reuniting him with his brother A.J. Terrell. Analysts have praised the pick, with one giving it an A+ grade.
Key points
Atlanta Falcons selected Avieon Terrell in the 2026 NFL Draft
Avieon Terrell is the younger brother of A.J. Terrell
Analysts gave the pick an A+ grade
Terrell needs to compete with veterans for a starting position
Mentioned in this story
ClemsonCBS Sports
Mike HughesAtlanta FalconsAvieon TerrellA.J. Terrell
Some will cry nepotism, others will point out his lack of size - but make no mistake, the Atlanta Falcons got a legit NFL defender in Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell.
Until now his claim to fame may have been his older brother A.J. playing corner for the Falcons, but now he'll be joining him on the field - assuming he can beat out Mike Hughes and the other veterans for a spot in the starting rotation.
One analyst who loves the pick is Mike Renner at CBS Sports, who gave Atlanta an A+ grade for the selection.
"The Terrell brothers are reunited once again. I say again, but being six years apart, they've likely never played on the same team until now. Avieon is the shorter, scrappier version of his brother AJ. He has the same smooth coverage skills, with a little more edge being the younger brother."
Renner is not the only one who approves of Terrell's game, either.
For the 2025 season, Pro Football Focus graded Terrell out at 83.5 overall, which ranked 38th out of nearly 900 qualifying cornerbacks in the nation. Terrell earned solid grades in run defense (85.2) and coverage (76.9).
All of that goes out the window in your first live NFL game, which can be a harrowing experience for even highly-touted rookies. That said, Terrell appears to have the makeup of a pro corner, if not the length. Time will tell if the Falcons made the right call here, or if they've taken the whole Football is Family thing a little too far.
What grade did analysts give the Falcons for selecting Avieon Terrell?
Analysts, including Mike Renner at CBS Sports, gave the Falcons an A+ grade for selecting Avieon Terrell.
Who is Avieon Terrell's brother and what position does he play?
Avieon Terrell's brother is A.J. Terrell, who plays cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons.
What challenges might Avieon Terrell face in securing a starting position?
Avieon Terrell will need to compete against veterans like Mike Hughes for a spot in the Falcons' starting rotation.
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