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Mark Raimondi
multiple authors
Flowery Branch, Ga.–D atlanta falcons Kept things in the family with their first selection of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Falcons selected CLEMSON towards the corner Avion Terrell Friday night with the No. 48 pick. avion’s elder brother AJ Terrell Atlanta has a star cornerback.
Terrells grew up in Atlanta, attending Westlake High School and then Clemson.
The Terrell family was watching the draft at an Atlanta-area restaurant Friday night. When the pickup arrived, AJ hugged Avion.
“As soon as I saw that call: ‘Atlanta Falcons,’ I said to AJ, ‘It’s time, brother,'” Avion said. “Tears of joy.”
The last time a team selected a player when his brother was already on the roster pittsburgh steelers According to Elias Sports Bureau, in 2022. pittsburgh selected Connor Hayward While in the sixth round cameron hayward Was in the team. Seattle Seahawks In fact two brothers were once drafted in back-to-back years: Shaquille Griffin in 2017 and Shaquem Griffin In 2018.
Avion was a third-team All-American selection in 2025, as well as a first-team All-ACC selection. His 27 pass breakups tied him with Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds for third-most in FBS since 2023. Avion also set the Clemson program career record for forced fumbles by a defensive back (eight, including five in 2025).
Avion will be a key piece in a powerful Falcons secondary. AJ, a former second-team All-Pro selection, is Atlanta’s No. 1 cornerback. The Falcons also boast a three-time second-team All-Pro safety Jesse Bates IIIas well as security Xavier WattsWho had five interceptions as a rookie last season.
AJ told ESPN earlier this month that he would love to have Avion as his pro partner, but would also like him to forge his own path. It turns out, the two will be in the same cornerback room together next season.
While AJ and Avion have played for the same programs in high school and college, they have not been teammates due to their age; AJ is six years older.
AJ said Friday night that playing with his brother is “a real dream come true.”
“I played this story over and over in my head,” AJ said. “Though I didn’t think it would happen.”
