The Atlanta Falcons were praised for signing A.J. Terrell to a four-year contract extension last week, but those same people were highly critical of the team for drafting the Clemson cornerback in 2020.
Terrell’s impact on the team has been proven time and time again, so fans were happy to see him get the long-term deal he deserved just in time for the start of the 2024 NFL season. Atlanta gave Terrell a four-year extension worth $81 million.
Since the former first-round pick was entering the final year of his rookie deal, the extension keeps him with the Falcons through the 2028 season. Now that we know the details of Terrell’s extension, let’s examine how much he will make each year:
| Year | Salary | Prorate Bonus | Roster Bonus | Guarantee | Cap |
| 2024 | $3,344,000 | $5,000,000 | 0 | $3,344,000 | $8,344,000 |
| 2025 | $14,000,000 | $5,000,000 | 0 | $14,000,000 | $19,000,000 |
| 2026 | $15,000,000 | $5,000,000 | 0 | 0 | $20,000,000 |
| 2027 | $17,000,000 | $5,000,000 | 0 | 0 | $22,000,000 |
| 2028 | $18,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $1,000,000 | 0 | $24,000,000 |
| Total | $67,344,000 | $25,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $17,344,000 | $93,344,000 |
Terrell’s deal makes him the second-highest player at his position. Only Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has a bigger contract, outdoing Terrell by $3 million in total value. However, Terrell’s contract contains the most money ever given to a cornerback over four years.
The Falcons restructured Chris Lindstrom’s contract to create over $10 million in cap space, allowing the team to add outside linebacker Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons. With Terrell locked in for the next five seasons, Atlanta’s secondary is in great shape for the foreseeable future.
