The off-season for the Atlanta Falcons so far has been one to remember and not in a good way. Former quarterback Matt Ryan is now on the Indianapolis Colts. Number one wide receiver Calvin Ridley is serving his suspension for the entire 2022 season due to gambling. The team has made some improvements to address these vacancies, but it will take some time. The Falcons are in a good spot and are in the beginning stages of a rebuild. The defense, especially the secondary, has improved. With the free agency signing of Georgia native Casey Hayward and the emergence of AJ Terrell, this corner back duo is one of the few bright spots on this team. This duo has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL if not, then the most underrated.
Hayward signed a two-year $11 million dollar contract with the Falcons this off-season and is the perfect veteran corner to mentor this young secondary. Even though Hayward is coming into his age 32 season, his experience and skill at the cornerback position is what the Falcons need. He once led the league in interceptions so he is more than capable of stopping receivers in the division like Mike Evans and Michael Thomas.
AJ Terrell had a stellar and surprising sophomore season. He is arguably one of the more underrated cornerbacks in the entire NFL. He was a First Team All Pro and a Pro Bowler. The former first rounder was deemed a reach by some, but has now outweighed everyone’s expectations on being one of the best young corners in the NFL.
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