Atlanta Falcons sign two draft picks

Staff Reports

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms with cornerback Avieon Terrell and defensive tackle Anterio Thompson. 

Atlanta selected Terrell in the second round (48th overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Clemson. He appeared in 39 games (31 starts) over three seasons (2023-25) with the Tigers, totaling 125 tackles (90 solo), 28 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles, four sacks, three fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He was a two-time All-ACC selection, leading all cornerbacks across the NCAA in forced fumbles across his three-year Clemson career, and set the Tigers’ single-season record with five in 2025. The Atlanta, Ga., native earned second-team AP All-American honors in his final season at Clemson after recording 46 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, a career-high three sacks, 11 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery over 12 starts.

The Falcons drafted Thomspon in the sixth round (208^th overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Washington. He played five seasons of collegiate football, spending the 2021-22 seasons at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Iowa (2023), Western Michigan (2024) and Washington (2025). In 2025, he played in all 13 games (three starts) for the Huskies and totaled 30 tackles (17 solo), two passes defensed and 1.5 sacks. Thompson played in all 13 games (12 starts) for Western Michigan in 2024, and in seven games for Iowa in 2023. The Dubuque, Iowa, native blocked two punts during the 2023 season, which tied for third in the nation.