The Falcons hit a home run with cornerback A.J. Terrell in the first round. A full-time starter since his rookie season, Terrell had a breakout year in 2021 that ended with a second-team All-Pro and was the second-best graded CB per PFF. He got his fifth-year option picked up, so he’ll have one more year to really ball out and will be among the top paid CBs.
Marlon Davidson however did not live up to his draft billing. He played in eight games as a rookie, then 11 games his second year, which included a pick-six of Tom Brady, but missed the following year with injury. He was released and signed with the 49ers and eventually with the Titans.
Matt Hennessy is another player that didn’t quite turn into the player the team had thought. After sitting behind veteran Alex Mack as a rookie, he was named the full-time starter in 2021, but lost the job the following year to Drew Dalman and couldn’t earn the vacant left guard spot. He missed the 2023 season with a knee injury, and will likely be headed elsewhere to try to earn a starting job.
Two players that became starters that were surprisingly released in 2023 are Mykal Walker and Jaylinn Hawkins. Walker started 20 games in three years that included a 107-tackle 2022 season, but was released and caught on with the Steelers. Hawkins started 16 games in 2022, but lost the starting job following the signing of Jessie Bates and was released midseason then claimed by the Chargers.
Sterling Hofrichter was the starting punter as a rookie, but was released the following year and had a stint with the Buccaneers and is currently in the UFL.
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