The Atlanta Falcons made another significant move within their defense this offseason, this one coming internally. The team secured cornerback A.J. Terrell to a four-year contract extension Thursday worth a maximum of $81 million, according to Terrell’s agent David Mulugheta.
The contract makes him the second highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, just behind the Green Bay Packers’ Jaire Alexander. Terrell, who turns 26 in September, has been a staple within the Falcons secondary since the team selected him with the No. 16 in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Terrell has picked off four passes in his career, even though he’s tallied zero interceptions in the past two seasons. Terrell has added 43 career pass defenses and earned a second-team All-Pro nod for the 2021 season.
The Falcons have been busy with defensive transactions of late. They traded for edge rusher Matthew Judon with the New England Patriots and signed Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons via free agency last week.
GO DEEPER
How do NFC cornerback groups stack up heading into 2024 season?
The Falcons executives spent the offseason praising Terrell’s play but declining to discuss the progress of extension talks.
“We are excited about A.J., expect him to have his best year,” assistant general manager Kyle Smith said before the deal.
Terrell was set to play this season on his fifth-year extension, and the new deal gives Atlanta more salary cap flexibility should the Falcons decide to continue adding to their roster this season. The new deal is the sixth-largest in the Falcons’ history, according to Spotrac, behind those of Kirk Cousins, Matt Ryan, Michael Vick, Ryan (again) and Chris Lindstrom.
Even though Terrell hasn’t had an interception since 2021, his coaches and teammates expect that to change this year because of Atlanta’s change in scheme. After being asked to play mostly man coverage last year under defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, Terrell will be playing much more zone this year under head coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake. That could mean an increased ability to see the quarterback and make plays on the ball.
“A.J. has been dying for interceptions,” safety Jessie Bates III said.
Required reading
(Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
