Former Clemson CB Avieon Terrell makes NFL history with Falcons deal

Former Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell entered the NFL with a family storyline already built in. The Atlanta Falcons traded up to take him in the second round, pairing him with his older brother, A.J. Terrell, in the same secondary and giving Clemson fans an easy reason to become a fan of Atlanta. But before Terrell even plays his first professional snap, his rookie deal has already become one of the more interesting contracts in the 2026 draft class.

Terrell signed a fully guaranteed contract with the Falcons, making the No. 48 overall pick the lowest drafted player to receive a fully guaranteed rookie deal. David Mulugheta of Athletes First negotiated the contract, and the result gives Terrell a piece of contract history.

The huge part about this deal is the "guarantee." Rookie contracts are slotted by draft position, so the basic framework is already there, but guaranteed money is where teams and agents can still battle. That is especially true in the second round, where clubs usually have more room to push back than in the first round.

Terrell’s deal gives other agents a new number to use. If the No. 48 pick can land a fully guaranteed contract, players drafted earlier in the second round now have an obvious argument. It does not mean every team will suddenly fold, but it does move the conversation. Now negotiations can point to Terrell’s contract as proof that full guarantees do not have to stop near the top of the round.

For Atlanta, the deal shows how much worth is in the younger Terrell. They traded up to get him, brought him into a secondary that already includes his older brother, and then gave him a contract that immediately stood out around the league. That is a pretty bold signal before he ever lined up for a rookie minicamp rep.

For Clemson, it is another major moment for one of the program’s recent defensive standouts. Terrell already had the draft story. He already had the brother storyline. Now he has the contract angle too, and that may end up being the part of his rookie arrival that reaches beyond just Atlanta.