NFL Rumors: A.J. Terrell, Falcons Agree to $81M Contract; Richest 4-Year CB Deal Ever | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell reportedly was rewarded with a new deal that will reset the market at his position.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons will sign Terrell to a four-year, $81 million contract extension that includes $65.8 million in guarantees, the largest guarantee a cornerback has ever received on a four-year deal.

The 16th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Terrell was entering the final year of his rookie deal and was set to make $12.3 million in 2024 on his fifth-year option. Thursday’s deal keeps him in Atlanta through the 2028 season and will have ramifications across the league for other top cornerbacks.

While waiting for his new deal, Terrell chose not to hold out of training camp. He told team reporter Amna Subhan last month that he wasn’t going to let his ongoing contract negotiations affect his preparations on the field with the Falcons.

“That’s the beauty of it, like right now I’m so focused on just being with the team and being involved and just let my agent work his moves and do what he do,” Terrell said at the time. “That’s easy for me to just come out to work and not think about it and know that it’s in good hands.”

Terrell started all 17 games last season and totaled 45 tackles, 11 pass breakups and four tackles for loss. He earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 when he recorded career highs of 81 total tackles, 16 pass breakups and three interceptions. He’s developed into a reliable shutdown corner who can shadow the opposing team’s No. 1 receiver.

Thursday’s deal for Terrell continues a strong run of moves for the Falcons on the defensive side of the ball in recent days. Last week, Atlanta acquired four-time Pro Bowl edge-rusher Matthew Judon from the New England Patriots and signed two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons to a one-year deal.