Falcons Starting CB Job 'Interesting Roster Battle'

A.J. Terrell needs one of his cornerback teammates to step up and claim a starting spot in the Atlanta Falcons secondary.

Jeremy Brener | Jul 22, 2023

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Atlanta Falcons

A.J. Terrell will start at cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons this season. But who else will join him? That remains to be seen.

The Falcons certainly have plenty of options when it comes to deciding who will start opposite Terrell.

"Veteran corner Mike Hughes signed with the team back in March and the Falcons also traded for former Lions first-round pick Jeff Okudah this offseason as well," CBS Sports writes. "They will duke it out for the starting job along with fourth-round rookie Clark Phillips III and 2022 carryovers Darren Hall and Cornell Armstrong."

Ultimately, if there was a "favorite" for the job, it would likely be Okudah. He has the most upside out of any of the team's cornerbacks outside of Terrell. However, he has to earn the job and must prove himself as a traded, former No. 3 overall pick approaching the final year of his contract after his fifth-year option wasn't exercised.

Hughes would win the job if the Falcons value his experience, but like Okudah, he also has to earn the starting gig.

The team could look in-house for Terrell's fellow starter, but Hall and Armstrong are probably the "underdogs" when it comes to this battle.

The most intriguing player in the mix is Phillips, who the team drafted in the fourth round. However, it's possible that he could slide in as the nickel. He represents the most untapped potential amongst the group, but he may not be ready right away for starter reps on the outside.

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Published Jul 22, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.