Getty A.J. Terrell celebrates a turnover vs. the Carolina Panthers.
A.J. Terrell’s performances had been among the many highlights of the Atlanta Falcons‘ 2021 season. The second-year cornerback earned recognition from many after taking large strides and rising as a reputable NFL shutdown cowl man.
The one factor lacking from Terrell’s season was a deserved Professional Bowl nod. Regardless of the snub, Terrell stays one of many few elite abilities basic supervisor Terry Fontenot ought to construct round for 2022.
Fontenot can kickstart the method by discovering the right bookend for Terrell on the perimeters of the Falcons’ secondary. Two specialists from CBS Sports activities have recognized the perfect cornerback to companion Terrell of their newest mock drafts.
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LSU Star a Standard Choose for Falcons
CBS Sports activities’ Ryan Wilson thinks LSU star Derek Stingley Jr. is just too good to disregard with the eighth-overall choose: “Former first-rounder AJ Terrell is having an amazing season, and Isaiah Oliver, who has additionally been good in protection, is within the last 12 months of his contract. After that, there’s not a lot depth and if one of the best CB within the draft is on the board right here, it’ll be onerous to cross on Stingley. The opposite choice, after all, is concentrating on a quarterback right here.”
These ideas are endorsed by one other CBS Sports activities analyst, Chris Trapasso. He echoed Wilson’s sentiments {that a} Terrell and Stingley double act is just too tempting to miss: “Give me A.J. Terrell and Derek Stingley in the identical secondary. The Falcons go protection as a substitute of receiver right here.”
There’s loads to love in regards to the Falcons utilizing a top-10 choice to take Stingley off the board when the 2022 NFL draft will get underway on Thursday, April 28. The apparent constructive could be buying essentially the most gifted protection ace on this 12 months’s class.
Stingley has impressed every time he’s taken the sphere for the Tigers, who boast a program that’s despatched many high quality defensive backs to the professionals. Kansas City Chiefs‘ security Tyrann Mathieu and versatile Jalen Mills of the New England Patriots are simply two former LSU standouts who’ve made the grade within the NFL.
Stingley’s set to comply with swimsuit after he not too long ago took to the The Players’ Tribune to declare for this 12 months’s draft. What Stingley wrote is relayed right here on this graphic from SEC Network:
The possibilities of Stingley replicating Mathieu, Mills and different LSU standouts are good. His is a recreation primarily based on being as stingy as potential to opposing receivers, per Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner: “This rating is banking loads on what Stingley placed on tape a very long time in the past, but it surely’s not as if that expertise went wherever. He has allowed solely a 41.1% completion proportion for his profession and has been beginning since his freshman 12 months.”
Renner’s reference to what Stingley did prior to now is telling, as a result of if there’s a priority, it’s sturdiness. Stingley suffered foot accidents that finally required surgical procedure and restricted him to simply 10 video games throughout his final two years at Baton Rouge, in keeping with NFL.com’s Chase Goodbread.
The harm file is a fear, however like Renner, most agree Stingley’s expertise remains to be first-round worthy. Wilson continues to imagine, telling Amanda Guerra of CBS Sports HQ he has “zero considerations” about Stingley’s harm:
Fontenot could wish to make the identical gamble if it means including one other younger and dynamic cornerback to the Falcons’ secondary. Particularly given the challenges offered by subsequent season’s schedule.
Cornerback Depth Key for Falcons in 2022
Fielding an all-star cornerback tandem seems to be like a should for the Falcons, primarily based on the variety of gifted quarterbacks they’re set to face this 12 months. Not simply quarterbacks, however a few of soccer’s greatest vast receivers too.
That’s a well-known downside near house, the place the Falcons need to cope with two video games in opposition to NFC South energy the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It means a pair of duels with Tom Brady and Mike Evans.
Atlanta’s 2022 slate additionally options house video games in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, per Kris Rhim of the Falcons’ official web site. Meaning going in opposition to Cardinals’ duo Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins, in addition to coping with Chargers’ passer Justin Herbert and receivers Mike Williams and Keenan Allen.
As Rhim confirmed, street video games provide little reprieve. The Falcons face Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, together with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals. There’s additionally an opportunity Russell Wilson may nonetheless be throwing passes to D.Ok. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett when the Falcons make the journey to Lumen Area to fulfill the Seattle Seahawks.
All of it provides as much as fairly a number of complications for Atlanta defensive coordinator Dean Pees. A minimum of he can depend on Terrell to remove one half of the sphere, one thing the 23-year-old did for enjoyable this season, as proven by these numbers from PFF:
Having Stingley do the identical factor on the opposite aspect wouldn’t solely decelerate the explosive wideouts on subsequent season’s schedule. It may additionally assist alleviate the obvious weak spot on Pees’ protection, specifically the shortage of a reputable cross rush.
The Falcons registered simply 18 sacks this season, by far the fewest in the league. Some studs are wanted up entrance, however any pass-rushers are going to search out it simpler to get to quarterbacks pressured to carry the ball due to smothering protection on the again finish.
Equally, Pees may stack the field with eight males extra typically to gang up on the run in opposition to offenses reticent to place the ball within the air in opposition to gifted and opportunistic corners.
Stingley and Terrell would mix to make the entire Falcons’ protection higher.
Source: Heavy
