Atlanta Falcons: A way too early 53-man roster prediction
Cornerbacks: (5, 48/53)
- A.J. Terrell
- Isaiah Oliver
- Kendall Sheffield
- Blidi Wreh-Wilson
- Josh Hawkins
The biggest difference entering 2020 for the cornerback position is that Desmond Trufant is not the starting corner anymore. After spending seven years in Atlanta he was cut by the team and signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions worth $21 million.
The Atlanta Falcons’ most pressing need was to find Trufant’s replacement and they did that in the 2020 NFL Draft. Clemson cornerback A.J. Terrell was selected in the first-round at sixteenth overall. Terrell is a big and athletic cover man who has the speed to keep up with wide receivers at the NFL level.
Isaiah Oliver is entering his third season for the Falcons after being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He had a solid sophomore season totaling 62 tackles but still only has one career interception which came as a rookie.
Kendall Sheffield who was a rookie last year drafted in the fourth-round played well in the slot and I expect him to be a bigger factor going into his second season. Wreh-Wilson brings veteran leadership to the team as the Falcons brought him back on a one-year contract.
He is currently the only veteran on the roster at corner and I would not be surprised if Atlanta considers adding another veteran before the season starts. The last cornerback spot is a tough one to figure out.
It would be Jordan Miler if he was not serving the rest of his four-game suspension that spans the first three weeks of the new season. Miller violated the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy at the end of last season.
So that leaves Josh Hawkins as the fifth cornerback who has some NFL experience playing two seasons in Green Bay before splitting time last year in Philadelphia and Carolina. The Falcons could also go the route of keeping one of the UDFA additions if one stands out during the preseason.