What is the biggest question facing the Falcons defense in 2024?

SUBHAN: There has been a lot of talk about quarterback early this offseason, but cornerback will be an ongoing question until it is answered next season. Who will start against AJ Terrell?

So far, the Falcons are already closely evaluating what they have in the room after not selecting a defensive back in the 2024 NFL Draft and signing only a few veterans early in free agency. Secondary coach Justin Hood and assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray, however, believe in the options available to them.

“We have a lot of young guys competing for this spot,” Gray said. “That’s what we try to tell them: ‘Look, there’s nothing in the pen, your job is to go out and compete every day and let us decide what you can do that will be the next guy sitting next to AJ.’ “

Through open offseason workouts, we saw Mike Hughes get reps alongside Terrell. Then, when Terrell didn’t participate in practice two weeks ago, Clark Phillips III stepped up.

Phillips also stepped up late last season, starting five games to finish his rookie year, so it’s no surprise to see him get first-team opportunities again in the present. Head coach Raheem Morris said he really liked what Phillips displayed this offseason, especially since the cornerback recently had a pick-six during a non-contact scrimmage.

“You love the nature of the human, he’s built for football and it shows,” Morris said. “I’m sure he goes to the grocery store thinking about football. He’s got a little foreignness about him that way. That’s what I like about this young man.”

So there are options, and the Falcons will continue to look at them as we get closer to training camp. I’m very curious who will have those starting reps with Terrell next week during mandatory minicamp if everyone is present and represented.