A.J. Terrell didn’t make ESPN’s list of top 10 NFL cornerbacks but was an honorable mention
With five prime-time matchups on the 2025 NFL schedule and a young Michael Penix Jr. leading the way, the Atlanta Falcons will have ample opportunity to showcase their talent to fans around the country this season. The timing couldn’t be better, considering how those around the league view the team at the moment.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled NFL executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top 10 players at each position, and the Falcons didn’t receive much love. For example, wide receiver Drake London was not only left off the top 10 wide receivers list, but he wasn’t even one of the 26 players to receive a vote.
After London’s snub, it was hard to imagine A.J. Terrell cracking ESPN’s cornerback rankings. While Terrell was not ranked among the top 10 cornerbacks, he was listed in the honorable mention section.
A.J. Terrell earns honorable mention in ESPN’s position rankings:
“Prototypical cover corner with length who has a lot of disruption,” said an NFL personnel evaluator. “But the ball production has been up and down. I think he would be more of a household name had he produced more in that area.”
The Falcons cornerback has been a steady force in a somewhat chaotic secondary since being drafted in 2020. Terrell has never been a interception machine, but his lengthy frame and instincts make him one of more effective players at his position.
The problem is that fans generally only appreciate cornerbacks who get lots of interceptions. That simply hasn’t been Terrell’s game. While his numbers are nothing to scoff at — six interceptions and 49 passes defended over five seasons — they don’t exactly generate headlines, either.
Nonetheless, Terrell is a true No. 1 cornerback in this league, and should continue to be for his remaining years in Atlanta. Last offseason, the Falcons signed him to an extension that will keep him with the team through the 2028 season.