The Atlanta Falcons’ defense has been their most reliable unit this year. However, they’ve hit a wall in recent losses. Special-teams turnovers explain the outcome against the Chicago Bears, but Atlanta’s defense has given up 30 points in back-to-back weeks. Both the Baltimore Ravens and Bears’ offenses too often dictated the terms of each game. If the Falcons want to return to the Top 10-caliber defense they showed during the season’s first month, they’ll need a new spark.
That spark should come
from their three rookie defenders: Kendal Daniels, Harold Perkins, and Avieon Terrell. Unlike in 2025, when the Falcons intentionally dropped their rookies into the deep end, the team has been more patient with its 2026 class. Daniels and Perkins have both played significant roles at linebacker, but they essentially split the second-linebacker reps next to Divine Deablo. Daniels gets the work on early downs in the team’s base and big nickel sets, while Perkins exclusively works in the team’s regular nickel sets. Meanwhile, Terrell started the year with significant reps at nickel cornerback, but was relegated to spot duty at outside cornerback when Billy Bowman returned in Week 3.
Avieon makes strong case to start over Mike Hughes
However, against the Bears, Terrell made his first official start at outside cornerback thanks to injuries and performed well. With the Falcons’ cornerback room looking healthier this week against the San Francisco 49ers, the question remains whether Terrell reverts to a role player or continues to see starter reps. Given the struggles of starter Mike Hughes, it makes the most sense to see Avieon continue to get the bulk of the snaps opposite elder brother, A.J. That spot has been troublesome for the Falcons since A.J. arrived in 2020, when the team has had a revolving door of starters. Hughes has been the steadiest presence since 2024, not because he’s their best, but rather their only option. Unfortunately, the Falcons have spent the last few offseasons prioritizing other needs, leaving cornerback largely ignored.
That changed when the team drafted Avieon with their top pick in 2026. So far, the team has leaned into Avieon’s versatility to play both inside and outside, which has helped given the prevalence of cornerback injuries at the start of this season. But now it’s time to start cultivating Avieon’s long-term fit at outside cornerback. That appears to be the vision, based on comments from defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich earlier this month, when he praised Avieon’s high-end potential there. The Falcons haven’t had a reliable cornerback duo since the heyday of Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford, roughly a decade ago. If the Terrell brothers can form a steady pair, it should do wonders to benefit the team’s defense.
Last week, Terrell acquitted himself well against the Bears, allowing just two receptions for 13 yards, according to PFF. That debut stands in stark contrast to the 58 receiving yards per game Hughes allowed in the same role over the five games before. While Ulbrich and the Falcons’ coaches have repeatedly expressed confidence in Hughes’ skills, last week provided the final evidence that Terrell is the better option. Avieon’s stingier coverage can help the Falcons return to their sixth-ranked coverage from the first four games, when they allowed just a 59 percent completion rate. The coverage has struggled in the last two losses, allowing a 79 percent completion rate and ranking dead last in that span.
Rookie linebackers will need to step up against upcoming 49ers test
While Terrell provides a youthful spark to the team’s secondary, the Falcons have had a similar one at linebacker with Daniels and Perkins. Both have been steady contributors through six weeks, but the 49ers could test that with Deablo out of the lineup. Both rookies will be instrumental in containing 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle. Facing two Hall-of-Fame-caliber playmakers will be a huge challenge, but it will also be an excellent litmus test for how far both young linebackers have developed. How they fare on Sunday will help determine how bright the Falcons defense’s future could be, both in the short and long term.
The short-term impact is obvious given the caliber of the 49ers offense and the Falcons’ upcoming opponents. San Francisco ranks second in EPA per play entering Week 7, according to Next Gen Stats. Atlanta also faces the No. 4-ranked Kansas City Chiefs, No. 5-ranked Detroit Lions, and No. 9-ranked Cincinnati Bengals over the next six weeks. This year, the Falcons defense hasn’t matched last year’s success against premier offenses, when it stymied top-ranked units like the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots. A huge factor in their 2025 success was the defense’s ability to take the ball away. This year’s defense hasn’t turned the ball over as readily, with just a single interception from safety Xavier Watts so far. Last year’s defense entered Week 7 ranked fifth in takeaways per game, while this year’s unit ranks 27th.
Creating splash plays becomes the next evolution for Falcons rookies
Atlanta’s two rookie linebackers aren’t responsible for that deficiency, but fixing it is the next step in their development. Both Daniels and Perkins have shown they can handle their assignments against the run and pass, with only a smattering of rookie mental lapses. As they get more comfortable with added reps, they can rise above what is being asked of them and do more than expected, which is where turnovers come in. It’s one thing to do your job by making a tackle and breaking up a pass, it’s another to strip the ball carrier or snatch a pick. Both Daniels and Perkins are poised for that leap, and it will hopefully begin against the 49ers.
It’s about time all three 2026 rookies started showing out, which lines up well with when last year’s rookie class did the same. In the secondary, Bowman and Watts both made their fair share of splash plays in the first month of 2025. Terrell’s delay in making his own can be blamed mostly on limited reps, and if he begins getting starter snaps, he should have more opportunities to make game-changing plays in the coming weeks, as Bowman and Watts did.
In the front seven last year, Jalon Walker began a breakout stretch in early November, and that month also marked the start of James Pearce’s seven-game sack streak. As October comes to a close, increased responsibilities should similarly push Daniels and Perkins to the next level.
So far, the Falcons have leaned on the veteran safety net, but it’s time to take the training wheels off this 2026 rookie class and see if they can get more from their defense. Daniels, Perkins, and Terrell’s contributions should prove instrumental in that boost. The Falcons’ pass rush remains one of the league’s top units at generating pressure. With improved coverage and more turnovers, the Falcons defense is well-equipped to meet upcoming challenges against the 49ers and other top offenses. If the rookies can turn steady execution into game-altering plays, the Falcons won’t just survive this upcoming stretch, but also build a foundation of dominant defense for years to come.
