Falcons GM alludes to A.J. Terrell extension next offseason

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After making Chris Lindstrom the highest-paid guard in football this offseason, the Falcons could be gearing up for a similarly lucrative extension for another All-Pro in A.J. Terrell, as Atlanta’s GM Terry Fontenot eluded to.

Terrell is slated to make $12.344 million next season under his fifth-year option and will be eligible for an extension next offseason.

Terrell enjoyed quite the breakout campaign in 2021 and was predictably rewarded with All-Pro honors, even if he was snubbed from the Pro Bowl. After Jaire Alexander and Denzel Ward’s extensions, Terrell is undoubtedly licking his lips at the thought of resetting the market.

Ward’s deal is worth $100.5 million over five years with $71.25 million guaranteed, which eclipsed Jalen Ramsey‘s $100 million and Marshon Lattimore‘s $97.6 million as the largest total value for a corner in league history.

Ward’s extension also exceeded Ramsey’s record-breaking average annual value of $20 million with a $20.1 million AAV, but Alexander’s more recent deal eclipsed that mark at $21 million per year. Finally, Ward’s guaranteed money tops Ramsey’s $71.2 million. Locking down Terrell isn’t going to be cheap, especially considering Jaire Alexander‘s market-setting deal.

The Falcons will try to complete this new contract with Terrell as soon as possible, especially considering Dallas will be looking to do the same with Trevon Diggs. The freehanded Cowboys will surely attempt to make a statement with Diggs’ extension. Let’s hope for Terry Fontenot’s sake, he gets there first with Terrell.

I would expect a deal that resets the market. I don’t think A.J. Terrell is a better cornerback than Jaire Alexander, but I also didn’t think Chris Lindstrom was the unquestioned best player at his position either, and he reset the guard market in several ways. The team clearly doesn’t look it at from that point of view. They want to reward their own guys, and Terrell is going to be a pillar of this franchise. I’d expect a deal worth between $21 and 22 million over four or five years, resetting the cornerback market.

Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire

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