FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Since the Falcons drafted A.J. Terrell, the question of who would play opposite him has been a whisper throughout every offseason in the years that have passed. Even now, with Terrell locked in for the long haul after signing a contract extension in the 2024 preseason, the question still remains.
As the second installment of our running free agency preview stories, Will McFadden listed out five cornerback options for the Falcons to consider this offseason. And while I personally liked a lot of names on his list, I actually think the one that makes the most sense is that of an already familiar name: Mike Hughes.
Hughes joined the Falcons two seasons ago on a two-year deal. That deal officially expires at the start of the new league year this March. But I think Hughes' performance in 2024 warrants another look inward before the Falcons look to the outside for corner help.
The truth of the matter is that the Falcons do not have enough money or draft capital to realistically fill every hole they have defensively. With premium positions like edge rusher, cornerback and (perhaps) safety and interior linemen on the docket to look at and prioritize this offseason, I think the Falcons would do well to put money towards something they already know works well within the system. Someone who would fall into that category is Hughes, because despite what casual watchers of the game may think, Hughes had a solid second season in Atlanta. So much so, that even if you move on from him you're going to be looking for someone who — at minimum — provided the consistency he did last year.
