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With no first-round pick to make this year, the Atlanta Falcons had to start their draft class in the middle of the second round at No. 48 overall. They used that pick on Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, the younger brother of Atlanta's star corner A.J. Terrell.
While it makes for a feel-good, brotherly-love kind of story, it's fair to question the pick in more than one way - and that's exactly what's been happening over the last week. The latest criticism comes from a couple anonymous NFL executives who spoke with The Athletic about every NFC team's draft classes. On the subject of Terrell, one questioned his size.
"“(Avieon Terrell) is OK — he’s just little, kind of skinny,” another exec said. “He will struggle against bigger body, more physical receivers."
Another anonymous exec brought up Terrell's poor athletic testing numbers.
"“The corner is a good player, but he had a hamstring (injury) and tested poorly,” a third exec said."
The truth hurts, and no matter how feisty Terrell's game may be, it doesn't change the fact that at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds he'll be overmatched against boundary receivers at the next level, forcing him into a slot role.
However, that won't guarantee success, either - as the league has evolved slot receivers to include more than just the stereotype of smaller, shiftifer receivers in that role. Terrell may find himself matched up against receivers and tight ends six inches taller and 40-50 pounds heavier than him - which will be a problem no matter how physical or scrappy his game might be.
On the second note, Terrell also posted a poor RAS score, coming in at 4.94 with bad grades for size as well as speed.
Terrell wouldn't be the first undersized cornerback with bad athletic numbers to make a name for himself in the NFL - but he does have his work cut out for him, and it is fair to question exactly what the Falcons are doing, here.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Anonymous NFL execs question Avieon Terrell's size, athletic testing
Continue reading...
While it makes for a feel-good, brotherly-love kind of story, it's fair to question the pick in more than one way - and that's exactly what's been happening over the last week. The latest criticism comes from a couple anonymous NFL executives who spoke with The Athletic about every NFC team's draft classes. On the subject of Terrell, one questioned his size.
"“(Avieon Terrell) is OK — he’s just little, kind of skinny,” another exec said. “He will struggle against bigger body, more physical receivers."
Another anonymous exec brought up Terrell's poor athletic testing numbers.
"“The corner is a good player, but he had a hamstring (injury) and tested poorly,” a third exec said."
The truth hurts, and no matter how feisty Terrell's game may be, it doesn't change the fact that at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds he'll be overmatched against boundary receivers at the next level, forcing him into a slot role.
However, that won't guarantee success, either - as the league has evolved slot receivers to include more than just the stereotype of smaller, shiftifer receivers in that role. Terrell may find himself matched up against receivers and tight ends six inches taller and 40-50 pounds heavier than him - which will be a problem no matter how physical or scrappy his game might be.
On the second note, Terrell also posted a poor RAS score, coming in at 4.94 with bad grades for size as well as speed.
Terrell wouldn't be the first undersized cornerback with bad athletic numbers to make a name for himself in the NFL - but he does have his work cut out for him, and it is fair to question exactly what the Falcons are doing, here.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Anonymous NFL execs question Avieon Terrell's size, athletic testing
Continue reading...
