Falcons rookie A.J. Terrell was the third cornerback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he could easily be under the most pressure this season.
The team released former No. 1 CB Desmond Trufant, leaving some uncertainty as to who Atlanta’s starters will be. Kendall Sheffield, Isaiah Oliver and Terrell will each be in the mix, along with veteran Darqueze Dennard.
Talking with reporters on Friday, Quinn said he was impressed with the competitive fire of the Falcons’ first-round pick and that he felt Terrell could physically step in right away.
As for Dennard, the Falcons love his versatility. However, Quinn wouldn’t say whether they intend to start him outside or in the slot, indicating he needed a few weeks to see where Dennard will play.
The benefit to a veteran addition like Dennard is that he takes some pressure off of Terrell, Sheffield and Oliver by letting them play where they fit best early on. It will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Raheem Morris handles this situation at corner with a full offseason to make his mark on the defense.
