A.J. Terrell
Atlanta FalconsModel Score
How good he is at what he is supposed to be doing, out of 100. Not a projection of what he will do next, and not a read on his contract. Median is about 70, and a 95 is rare. How it is built →
Season Stats · 15 games
Draft & College
Covers the college seasons in our data, which does not always reach back to a player's first year.
Comps
STM Take
2021 tier 1 (#1) STTM peak plus the 2025 tier 2 (#10) bounce-back puts Terrell in the rare CB class with elite peak and structural mid-career volatility. The Clemson 2018 CFP National Championship pedigree plus the 16th overall draft slot establishes elite foundation. The 2026 question is whether Terrell earns his first Pro Bowl plus holds tier 2 territory or whether the structural mid-career instability returns.
Terrell came out of Clemson as the Atlanta Falcons' 1st-round pick (16th overall) in 2020 after starting for the Tigers' 2018 CFP National Championship roster. He delivered a tier 1 (#1) STTM peak as a rookie in 2021. His STTM career runs tier 1 (#1) in 2021, tier 7 (#54) in 2022, tier 6 (#44) in 2023, tier 7 (#53) in 2024, and tier 2 (#10) bounce-back in 2025.
Strengths
- 2021 tier 1 (#1) STTM peak as a 16th overall pick plus the 2018 Clemson CFP National Championship pedigree establishes elite CB ceiling.
- 2025 tier 2 (#10) bounce-back after three years of tier 6-7 finishes confirms the elite ceiling is still reachable.
Concerns
- Career STTM volatility (tier 1 in 2021, tier 6-7 in 2022-2024, tier 2 in 2025) confirms the ceiling is highly team-fit and scheme dependent.
- Atlanta's broader defensive identity around the multi-year rebuild compresses the structural support around Terrell.
What to watch: Whether Terrell earns his first Pro Bowl in 2026 plus holds tier 2 or better, the threshold for confirming the 2025 ceiling can be sustained.