The Atlanta Falcons kept it in the family this past weekend, selecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell in the second round of the draft, bringing the younger brother of their current starter and former All-Pro, A.J. Terrell, aboard.
But that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed a starting role on the Falcons’ defense.
Avieon Terrell Will Have to Earn His Opportunity
Being drafted with the No. 48 overall pick essentially guarantees you a roster spot. No team in their right mind is going to spend a premium pick on a player, only intending to cut him at the end of training camp in hopes of stashing him on the practice squad. You’re practically begging for another team to swoop in and claim him on waivers.
That’s especially true for Terrell, who was the fourth-ranked cornerback on PFSN’s consensus big board and No. 24 prospect overall. He was a three-year starter for the Tigers, playing in 39 games, logging 125 total tackles, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 25 defended passes.
It’s a relatively thin cupboard at cornerback for the Falcons at the moment, so Terrell’s path to earning a starting job is fairly clear. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be hand-wrapped and gifted to him on a silver platter, though.
According to The Athletic, an anonymous executive called the Falcons’ selection of Terrell “nostalgic.” He compared it to the team’s drafting of Jalon Walker in the first round last spring, keeping the Georgia Bulldog in-state.
“That pick felt even more nostalgic than the Georgia rusher (Jalon Walker) in the first round last year,” the executive said. “It’s cool that (Terrell) is playing with his brother, but this isn’t like the NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo. You have to make sure guys come in and contribute.”
The implication behind the executive’s words is clear. While the eldest of the Terrells has already achieved success and performed at a high level in the league, Avieon won’t be able to just hit the “cruise control” button and skate by in his brother’s shadow.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s older brother, Thanasis, has spent six seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and re-signed with the team on a one-year deal last summer after tearing his Achilles tendon.
While Thanasis has played a minor role for the Bucks through the years, the resounding speculation was that he was simply kept on the roster because it’d make Giannis, one of the brightest stars in the NBA, happy.
Giannis has earned a slew of awards throughout a 13-year career, including earning 10-time All-Star honors, All-Star Game MVP in 2021, NBA Most Improved Player in 2017, Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, and league MVP in 2019 and 2020. Most importantly, he led the Bucks to the 2021 championship, earning Finals MVP honors.
The Falcons’ defense was about middle-of-the-pack a season ago. They were ranked No. 15 in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric with an impact score of 75.3. Any aid that the Terrell brothers can provide to the Falcons’ secondary will be welcomed.
