The Falcons might be a surprise contender headed into the 2026 season; they are in good shape on the offensive side of things, and the defense will be the bigger concern. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will have his work cut out for him heading into year 2 on the job after a meager first season on the job. But the personnel that the Falcons have on the defensive side of things will loom large in addition to the coaching. I have gone into detail analyzing the personnel that Atlanta has in their front seven and here I will go into detail assessing the players that Atlanta has in the back end of their defense.
Set to start at the first of the two primary cornerback spots is former first rounder A.J Terrell who has had his ups and downs in the NFL thus far but is still a high-quality starter. Terrell in six seasons in the NFL has graded in the above average range in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus among players at his position four times, below average once which was in 2025, and exactly average once as a rookie. Terell was viewed as a transformative secondary prospect entering the NFL and although he has not quite lived up to that hype, he has not been too far off. Terrell during the 2021 season was graded as the third best overall cornerback in the NFL and garnered second team All-Pro honors in doing so. Although Terrell has not been able to maintain elite play, he has been consistently solid if not very good otherwise and perhaps he can come into his own heading into year 2 under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
Set to start at the strong safety spot is former 2nd rounder Jessie Bates III who is also similar to Terrell in that both were former high draft picks who have shown an elite ceiling, but who struggle to remain consistent from time to time. Bates III in eight seasons in the NFL has graded in the above average range six times, but in the remaining two times he graded in the below average to well below average range. However, both of those occurrences were early in his career where he was still adjusting to the NFL, but Bates III did have a down year in 2025 ranking near the middle of the pack in that regard. Bates III has ranked among the premier safeties in the NFL with regularity garnering three second team All-Pro selections with Pro Football Focus grading him in the top ten among players at his position three times, and in the top two among players at his position twice, which included being graded as the best overall safety in one season. Bates III is coming off a relative down year grading in the middle of the pack but perhaps he can recapture elite form heading into year 2 under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
2025 3rd rounder Xavier Watts is set to start at the free safety spot and is coming off an elite rookie season. Watts graded in the top 20% among all safeties according to Pro Football Focus despite being a rookie which is remarkable. Watts is in line to become a potential superstar at the position as he had one of the best rookie seasons of a defensive player that I can remember. However, he still must prove it more on the field as it is very possible that he has a sophomore slump type of season.
Former first rounder Mike Hughes is set to start at the other primary cornerback spot and has had an up and down career but is still talented. In eight seasons in the NFL Hughes has graded above average only three times despite being drafted so highly. However, in many of the occasions where he has graded in the below average range he has struggled to stay on the field, was very young, or was adjusting to a new defensive scheme. Hughes has lived up to his first-round billing for long stretches, in two separate seasons where he accumulated over 500 snaps he graded in the top 20% among players at his position which included grading in the top ten on one occasion as well. Perhaps Hughes can come into his own, be on his A game and produce at a high-level heading into year 2 under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. However, Hughes remains a prime candidate to transition to a reserve role if he is not producing as the Falcons have a few very strong reserve corners in line to potentially take his place.
2025 4th round rookie Billy Bowman Jr is set to start at the nickel cornerback spot after coming off a disappointing rookie season where he was graded as among the weakest overall corners in the NFL. Bowman Jr also remains a prime candidate to move to a reserve role if he does not improve. Bowman Jr was a first team All-Big-12 selection during one season in college, so the potential is certainly there. However, Bowman Jr also remains a prime candidate to transition to a reserve role if he does not improve, as Atlanta does have a few noteworthy names who could take his place.
From a reserve standpoint in the secondary the Falcons have some players who could serve the team very well as high end backups and/or could eventually transition to becoming starters. 2023 4th round cornerback Clark Phillips III struggled as a rookie but then graded in the top ten among all qualified corners taking about 400 snaps in year 2 in 2024. Phillips III did not see the field in 2025 due to injury, but if he can build off of his 2024 season then he is not just a starting caliber player but potentially a high-level borderline elite to elite starter. 2023 3rd rounder safety Sydney Brown looked elite in limited snaps during year 2 in the NFL and has been decent in totality. Former top 10 overall pick cornerback C.J Henderson is on the roster who was viewed as a generational defensive back prospect entering the NFL but has been consistently below average in the league thus far. However, Henderson has shown some improvement over the years looking solid in 2025, while never getting a chance as of yet to put together a full season of snaps. The Falcons also drafted cornerback Avieon Terrell in the 2nd round of the 2026 draft who could blossom into a star. While the likes of cornerback Natrone Brook has looked strong in very limited NFL snaps as a former undrafted free agent.
The Falcons have one of the most talented secondaries in the NFL and a breakdown of the unit can be found below.
2026 Projected Falcons’ Starting Secondary
LCB – A.J Terrell – B+, former first rounder, elite ceiling but struggles to stay consistent
SS – Jessie Bates III – A-, one of the most underrated players in the NFL, arguably one of top overall safeties
FS – Xavier Watts – B+ as rookie in 2025, 3rd rounder before 2025 season, star potential
RCB – Mike Hughes – C+ to B, former 1st rounder with very high to elite ceiling, far too inconsistent, may transition to a reserve role
NB – Billy Bowman Jr – C- as rookie in 2025, 4th rounder before 2025 draft, weak link in secondary for now, may transition to reserve role
2026 Notable Falcons’ Reserve Secondary PlayersÂ
CB – Clark Phillips III – B+ to A-, 2023 4th rounder, struggled as rookie, elite in year 2 taking ~400 snaps
FS – Sydney Brown – C+ to B-, 2023 3rd rounder, has looked borderline elite at times
CB – C.J Henderson – C to C+, former top 10 overall pick, mostly been a bust thus far, jury is still out on him however
CB – Avieon Terrell – 2026 2nd rounder
CB – Natrone Brooks – B, very limited NFL snaps
