Per week after buying two Professional Bowl newcomers, the Atlanta Falcons have reached a take care of one in every of their longtime high gamers, signing cornerback A.J. Terrell to a four-year, $81 million contract, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
The deal consists of $65.8 million in successfully full ensures, sources stated, which represents the most important assure ever given to a cornerback on a four-year settlement. The contract was negotiated by Terrell’s brokers David Mulugheta and Trevon Smith of Athletes First.
Terrell is now the second-highest-paid cornerback on a per-year foundation at $20.25 million. That trails solely the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ Jaire Alexander, who makes $21 million per 12 months.
The Falcons introduced the four-year extension that runs by the 2028 season with out disclosing monetary phrases.
“We’re very glad to be within the place to supply this extension for A.J., who’s definitely effectively deserving of it,” Falcons normal supervisor Terry Fontenot stated in a press release. “A homegrown participant, he embodies the traits and traits we wish as a Falcon. He leads by instance together with his work ethic, and as an important teammate he does something he can to assist this group win on a steady foundation. We admire the assist of our proprietor, Arthur Clean, for offering the assets to reward gamers who function the precise approach.”
In the beginning of coaching camp final month, Terrell had acknowledged the talks on a brand new deal however stated he was “so targeted on simply being with the group.”
“So it is simple for me to simply come out, come to work and never give it some thought and know that it is in good arms,” he stated.
Terrell, 25, was a second-team All-Professional in 2021 and has been thought to be an upper-echelon cornerback. The Falcons drafted him with the sixteenth general choose within the 2020 draft, and he’s set to make $12.344 million this season on the fifth-year possibility of his rookie deal.
In 2021, Terrell had three interceptions and 16 passes defensed (sixth within the NFL). He has not had an interception since then however has 36 go breakups over his 4 NFL seasons.
Final week, the Falcons signed free agent security Justin Simmons to a one-year, $8 million contract, including the two-time Professional Bowler to a secondary that features Terrell and Professional Bowl security Jessie Bates III. Atlanta additionally added four-time Professional Bowl edge rusher Matthew Judon by way of commerce from the New England Patriots in alternate for a third-round choose.
