Could Brothers Unite in Atlanta After the 2026 NFL Draft?
With the NFL draft just around the corner, the Atlanta Falcons will need to address the holes on their roster without a first-round pick. Although finding a starting-caliber player in the second round isn’t impossible, the likelihood of finding a truly elite player dwindles with each pick. The draft, however, is always unpredictable. Players rise and fall constantly on teams’ draft boards, and a potential first-round pick whose brother is already playing in the NFL could fall right into the Falcons’ lap.
Avieon Terrell: A Playmaker Built on Instinct and Speed
Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell has become the talk of the town in terms of defensive backs in the 2026 draft. The former Tiger finished his career in Death Valley with a combined total of 125 tackles, three interceptions, and eight forced fumbles throughout his college career. The five-foot-eleven corner is getting comparisons to Charles Tillman, and for good reasons. Terrell has a knack for getting to the football, whether it be batting the ball away or punching the ball out of the ball carrier’s hands. He’s quite shifty for a corner, with incredible closing speed and fluid hips that can jam even the savviest route runners at the line of scrimmage. However, Terrell is fairly light at 180 pounds with a somewhat thin frame. Bigger body receivers can beat him at the catch point, which sometimes leads to him getting handsy and grabby- which can lead to penalties at the professional level. Tackling also seems to be a point of concern for the former Clemson Tiger as well. His smaller frame leads to sloppy arm tackles and ankle swipes that he’ll have to clean up once he enters the league. Terrell still makes up for that size with his skill and finesse, which makes him one of the top cornerback prospects in the draft.
A Familiar Name in Atlanta: The Terrell Connection
The Terrell name may sound familiar to Atlanta Falcons fans. Yes, Avieon Terrell is the former second-team all-pro A.J. Terrell’s younger brother. A.J. started his NFL career slowly, but has seemed to find himself at home in the big A. Some scouts are lower on Avieon because of his small frame and size as a boundary corner. Avieon’s stock has been in flux coming into the draft. Scouts around the league either have him as high as the second-best corner in the draft or as low as someone who could fall to day two. The inconsistency and unpredictability of the draft could land The Clemson-Bred Playmaker ripe for picking with Atlanta’s 48th overall pick. Atlanta badly needs corner help outside of the Defensive Backfield Leader, especially after losing Dee Alford in free agency. A potential uniting of the Terrell brothers would do wonders for Atlanta’s secondary and defense as a whole.
Building Speed and Depth in the Secondary
Atlanta’s secondary needs speed badly. Safeties Jesse Bates and Xavier Watts are elite ball hawks, but can be prone to being beaten by double-moves. Pairing Avieon with AJ would give the Falcons’ secondary a solid one-two punch. Both are great at the line of scrimmage, now paired with the elite closing speed and athleticism from Avieon to catch those receivers that may get behind the secondary. The Ball-Hawking Corner would also do wonders for the Falcons’ rush defense, which struggled throughout the 2025 NFL season. Despite his lack of size, Avieon has a nose to get into the backfield. If the draft goes the Falcons’ way, the Dirty Birds could see an emerging dynamic duo with the Terrell brothers in their secondary.
