Indianapolis — The Atlanta Falcons may be looking for a new cornerback, and they can browse at the NFL Combine before deciding whether to shop at the NFL Drafth
A.J. Terrell was the only player in 2023 who started every game at the secondary position. His counterpart started as Jeff Okudah and ended as Clark Phillips III. Terrell and Phillips are set to return in 2024, while Okudah will become an unrestricted free agent on March 13.
So Terrell is a lock. However, the opposite of him remains a question mark. Phillips might take the slot, Okudah could resign in Atlanta, or someone fresh could enter to compete.
Speaking of a potential newcomer, the cornerbacks spoke with the media at the combine on Thursday. Some of the most famous names — Cooper DeJean, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Nate Wiggins, and Kool-Aid McKinstry — could be available to the Falcons at No. 8 in the first round on April 25. Arnold from Alabama, according to NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice, is the only cornerback in that group to have been selected in the most recent mock draft
“Having originally arrived at Alabama as a five-star safety recruit, Arnold’s still relatively new to the cornerback position, but he checks all of the trait boxes with size, speed, physicality and ball skills,” Filice said in a statement. “Now he only needs a little polish. Who better to provide that than new Falcons head coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, two coaches who have extensive expertise producing cover men
Arnold stated Thursday that he met with the Falcons while in Indianapolis. And, if this is a first-round combination, Arnold will have a familiar face on the Falcons roster to assist him transition from collegiate to professional in the locker room and during defensive meetings.
Safety DeMarcco Hellams, a fellow Alabama product, played alongside Arnold for his final two seasons before being selected by the Falcons in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. They work in different positions, but both reside in the secondary. Hellams also performed well in his league debut, making four starts in 15 games and totaling 40 tackles.
