Clemson Cornerback Avieon Terrell has Room for Improvement

Outside of quarterback, cornerback is one of the most important positions on an NFL team, which brings us to Avieon Terrell, who plays the position for Clemson.

Terrell sits on the consensus draft media board as the No. 24-ranked prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Should he be rated that high?

No.

Not yet.

The game film doesn’t support that valuation.

Could that change?

Yes.

Will it?

Time will tell.

* It’s worth noting that Terrell changed jersey numbers from No. 20 in 2024 to No. 8 for the 2025 season.

What does he do well on film?

• Run
• Plays with a physical edge

Terrell (whose older brother A.J. plays for the Falcons) played cornerback and wide receiver in high school. He also ran track back then, and all three things come out when watching Terrell play for Clemson. This prospect shows a solid understanding of route concepts from his days lining up as a receiver, and he for sure shows off his wheels while covering straight-line deep vertical routes.

He looked good doing that for the most part.

Terrell is a press-man corner through and through who loves physically challenging receivers. This is where he excelled. Press-man coverage is when the cornerback lines up directly on the wide receiver pre-snap. Terrell looks the part with his quick and nimble backpeddle and his fluid hips that allow him to easily turn and run while staying glued to the receiver for the most part.

Key phrase, “For the most part.”

These things cloud the picture

• Plays the ball much more than he plays the receivers
• Too physical and handsy at times

This is where I got off the first-round ride with Terrell.

Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), Terrell was targeted 68 times in 2024, and he gave up 35 receptions (51.5% catch rate). From observation, these two issues had a lot to do with the 35 catches.

These two attributes also make him ripe for yellow penalty flags. PFF had him credited with seven in 2024.

Hesitation shows up

This was the case in off-man coverage, and it shows up when receivers can fool Terrell with “moves” on pass routes.

Off-man coverage is when the cornerback lines up a few yards away from the receiver he’s covering before the ball is snapped.

Terrell lines up most of the time in press or off-man coverage, and when he’s in off-man, and since he tends to play the receiver more than the ball, receivers are often able to comfortably gain underneath leverage on shorter routes and secure the catch. That extra moment of hesitation between them breaking on the route and Terrell’s reaction time is all they need. At best, Terrell often arrived right after the catch and could only make the tackle.

Any kind of head fake by receivers or double-moves also often proved to be just enough to beat him.

No. 2 NFL cornerback projection

I like Terrell’s competitiveness, confidence, and how he could cause a turnover by punching the ball out, which is his signature play.

He’s just not polished enough to be in the first-round conversation.

College teams didn’t avoid throwing at him.

#20 Avieon Terrell 5-foot-11, 180 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Summer Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First-Round prospect as of August 13, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: Georgia, Appalachian State, NC State, Stanford, FSU, Wake Forest, Virginia, Louisville, Virginia Tech, PITT, The Citadel, South Carolina, SMU, and Texas (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2024: 12 passes defended and 2 interceptions

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic raw prospect with an aggressive nature. Quick. Twitchy. Springy. Fluid movements. Active. Playmaking vibe. Emotional. Energetic. Quiet feet. Good get up and go in press man. Impedes some routes. Skilled at maintaining route leverage. Did his best to make a play on the ball. Reliable damage control corner in off-man and zone. Gives too much cushion at times. No short-area burst. Decent pass and run support. More of a hitter. Sometimes reluctant to get involved.

What to watch for during the 2025 season?

1. Playing the receiver or the ball?

2. Drawing penalties because of physicality?

3. Showing short-area burst?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.