Bolts From The Blue
The Chargers enter Week 14 with one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. After limiting the Raiders through the air, they now rank second in the league with an average allowance of 168.3 passing yards per game.
They’re also getting the most out of some veteran defensive backs with both cornerback Donte Jackson and safety Tony Jefferson tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Corners Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart are solidified in the future of this team, but it’s not too early to start finding that third corner to help solidify a starting trio for years to come.
In a new 2026 mock draft by CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson, the NFL analyst has the Chargers selecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell with the 25th overall pick. Terrell is the brother of current Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, a former second-team All-Pro in 2021.
“Terrell has NFL bloodlines — his brother is former first-round pick AJ Terrell.,“ says Wilson. ”Avieon plays bigger than his listed size (see his matchup in 2024 against former Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor). He can stay in phase on vertical routes and has good ball skills and he will try to bait QBs into making throws. In run support, he plays outside CB like he’s a strong safety.”
Outside of the obvious skills Terrell possesses in coverage, he’s also one heck of a turnover creator. Just this season alone, he’s forced five fumbles which brings his career total to eight (three recovered).
Over the past two seasons as a full-time starter, Terrell has totaled 108 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, 21 pass breakups, and two interceptions to go along with the aforementioned forced fumbles/recoveries. He looks to be a stat-sheet stuffer who can play a number of roles for a secondary.
Cornerback is not a huge need for the Chargers at the moment and I’m not sure they’ll be lacking bodies at the position this offseason, mainly due to the presumed UDFA finds in both Nikko Reed and Eric Rogers. If they do end up drafting a cornerback, I would be fairly surprised. Especially when several other positions are drastically more in need.
But what are all of your thoughts on this one? Would cornerback be a terrible move for the Chargers in the first round? Yay or nay on Terrell? Let me know!
