Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns
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Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns
The Atlanta Falcons defense made a noticeable jump last season compared to 2024. Their one glaring need seemed to be addressed with the hiring of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and the addition of two first-round picks, Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.
Even with former head coach Raheem Morris gone and Kevin Stefanski now in place, Ulbrich remains for next season. Pearce, however, may not be able to return pending the outcome of a domestic incident that led to his arrest and five felony charges in early February.
Losing Pearce would be a significant blow and would force the Falcons to find a replacement. But there’s another position the previous regime failed to properly address, leaving the current one to handle it: cornerback.
Falcons Linked to Trade for Denzel Ward
When it comes to the cornerback position in Atlanta, the only consistently reliable name over the past several years has been A.J. Terrell.
“The Falcons’ search for a corner to play opposite A.J. Terrell has not been productive. Mike Hughes tried to fill the role last season, and it was a weak spot in the Falcons’ secondary,” Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine wrote.
Ballentine floated a trade suggestion that carries a direct connection to Stefanski. In his proposal, the Falcons would send the Cleveland Browns a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 114) and a 2027 conditional third-round pick in exchange for cornerback Denzel Ward.
“Ward is on the older side. He’ll be 30 in December, but he’s still playing at a high level and was a major component of the Browns’ success on defense this season. He’s also already familiar with Kevin Stefanski and what he’ll try to instill in the team.”
Ward will enter his ninth NFL season in 2026. Last year, he recorded a career-low one interception in 15 games and ranked 67th among eligible cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
“For Cleveland, this is an opportunity to improve its stockpile of draft picks in 2027 to chase a quarterback,” Ballentine added. “For the Falcons, it’s about putting together the best secondary they’ve had in years while keeping costs light, since they already traded their 2026 first-round pick during last year’s draft.”
Falcons Cornerback Group Still a Concern
The cornerback position as a whole did not grade well for Atlanta last season — including Terrell.
Terrell played a team-high 957 snaps at the position, but his overall defensive grade matched Hughes’, as both were tied for 75th out of 112 eligible cornerbacks. Hughes actually graded slightly better in coverage at 58.7 compared to Terrell’s 57.3, despite playing 689 snaps.
The Falcons hoped they may have found a sleeper in fourth-round pick Billy Bowman at No. 118 overall. He recorded the fourth-most snaps among Falcons corners and posted a 52.8 coverage grade while adding an interception in his rookie season.
Time will tell whether he develops into a more reliable option at the position and what the new staff ultimately has planned for him.
As for a potential trade for Ward, Ballentine’s proposal comes at a cost. The move would leave Atlanta with just four draft picks in 2026 — one selection each in the second, fourth, sixth and seventh rounds.
Regardless of the need for another dependable corner, surrendering a third-round pick may simply be too expensive for where the Falcons currently stand.