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Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell reportedly was rewarded with a new deal that will reset the market at his position.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons will sign Terrell to a four-year, $81 million contract extension that includes $65.8 million in guarantees, the largest guarantee a cornerback has ever received on a four-year deal.
The 16th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Terrell was entering the final year of his rookie deal and was set to make $12.3 million in 2024 on his fifth-year option. Thursday’s deal keeps him in Atlanta through the 2028 season and will have ramifications across the league for other top cornerbacks.
While waiting for his new deal, Terrell chose not to hold out of training camp. He told team reporter Amna Subhan last month that he wasn’t going to let his ongoing contract negotiations affect his preparations on the field with the Falcons.