Falcons Select A.J. Terrell With No. 16 Pick

The Falcons bolstered their secondary Thursday, drafting Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell.

The Falcons selected CB A.J. Terrell with the 16th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. A Peach State product, Terrell played wide receiver and cornerback for the Lions at Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia. As a five-star recruit, Terrell capped his high school career by playing in the 2017 Under Armour All-America game.

Terrell (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) recorded 14 tackles and one interception during 14 games as a true freshman in 2017. His numbers improved as a sophomore as he posted 53 tackles, three INT and one TD in 2018. He capped that season by jumping Jerry Jeudy and intercepting Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. That turned into a 44-yard pick-six and was the first score during the Tigers’ 2019 CFP National Championship victory.

He didn’t fare as well in the 2020 National Championship versus LSU. Joe Burrow beat him like a drum, but he closed his career with First Team All-ACC honors as a junior. Over three seasons, Terrell posted 101 tackles (74 solo) six INT, a half-sack, 13 defended passes and one pick-six. Prior to the 2020 NFL Draft, Bodog had his over/under draft position set at 32.5 with (-110) juice on both sides.

Here’s why SI’s Kevin Hanson ranked Terrell as the No. 38 overall player on his big board:

While Terrell may not have fared well in his collegiate finale against Ja’Marr Chase and LSU, the junior cornerback has the length, fluidity and speed that teams covet.

2019 stats (Junior; Clemson): 24 solo tackles, 34 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, 2 INT (14 games)

2018 stats (Sophomore; Clemson): 40 solo tackles, 53 total tackles, 3 INT (14 games)

2017 stats (Freshman; Clemson): 10 solo tackles, 14 total tackles, 1 INT (10 games)

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