Avieon Terrell Tipped to Follow Brother AJ as First-Round Impact CB

The presumptive fourth cornerback likely to be selected in the 2026 NFL draft, in a year in which the position is expected to offer fewer blue chip prospects than is the norm, could end up faring much better than many are expecting.

Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell is generating a lot of chatter among evaluators we’ve talked to as they analyze the position group in this draft, with some suggesting they believe he could be as impactful as his brother, Falcons standout corner AJ Terrell. 

Clemson had a poor season and Terrell isn’t getting anything close to the pre-draft hype being directed at LSU corner Mansoor Delane, or Tennessee corners Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood, but with so much variance in the draft and corner a position of need for so many teams, and this draft lacking the blue chip talent of others at the position, we’d wager Terrell ends up getting selected in the top 20 picks.

The Case For Terrell

Some evaluators SportsBoom trust made the case that he could be the best prospect of the bunch outside of Delane; it wouldn’t be shocking to see Delane gone in the top five picks.

“Give me the bloodlines man,” one longtime personnel executive said. 

“He’s not as tall as his brother, that’s why you don’t hear as much about him. But he’s fluid, he has closing speed. He played a lot of football. He can hold up in press man. He checks a lot of boxes for me. I don’t think it’s as clear cut who goes in what order (at cornerback) after Delanie.”

AJ Terrell was a first-round pick who has more than lived up to the billing, including earning a second-team All Pro designation one season. 

Atlanta has lacked a competent pass rush during his career, putting even more pressure on the top corners in coverage. It’s not uncommon for a half dozen or more cornerbacks to be selected in the first round of some drafts, but the over under is at 4.5 for this draft, weighed heavily to the under, and for good reason. 

However, it’s also not out of the realm of possibility that all four of the top corners are gone in the top two thirds of the first round.