The Atlanta Falcons have signed cornerback CJ Henderson. Henderson was once considered one of the NFL’s most promising young cornerbacks. Selected ninth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, he entered the league with high expectations thanks to his elite speed, smooth coverage skills, and standout college career.
CJ Henderson Background
CJ Henderson, who attended the University of Florida, was chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the ninth overall choice in the 2020 NFL Draft. Henderson participated in and started eight Jaguars games as a rookie. He recorded 36 tackles, six pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. Due to a groin injury, Henderson was placed on injured reserve by the Jaguars in Week 11. That season, he didn’t play another game.
The Jaguars traded Henderson to the Carolina Panthers on September 27, 2021, in return for tight end Dan Arnold. Before the deal, Henderson played 10 games with the Panthers and two with the Jaguars. Between the two teams, he started seven of the games.
Jaguars’ Top-10 Pick
Henderson, who graduated from the University of Florida, was renowned for his ability to shadow elite receivers and provide lockdown coverage. The Jaguars saw CJ Henderson as a key component of their defensive reconstruction. Henderson was named to the First Team All-SEC at Florida and immediately established himself as one of the country’s most athletic cornerbacks. He was a problem for opposing quarterbacks because of his lightning-fast 40-yard dash of 4.39 seconds and knack for being a ball hawk.
NFL Journey
Henderson has had a varied career, with periods of promise frequently cut short by injury and patchy play. Henderson made an interception and deflected six passes in just eight games during his first season before suffering an injury that kept him out of action. In 2021, Jacksonville traded CJ Henderson in an unexpected midseason transaction.
Henderson never really established himself as a dependable starter with the Panthers, despite showing flashes of promise. He was a starter and backup during three seasons, posting consistent but unimpressive stats. Henderson briefly played with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans after Carolina, primarily as a depth option and practice squad. Once more, injuries limited his availability.
Conclusion
CJ Henderson’s signing by the Falcons is a wise depth move for the organization as well as a new opportunity for the individual. Henderson might improve Atlanta’s secondary going into the season if he can regain even a small amount of the skill that made him a top-10 draft pick. Henderson is a low-risk, possibly high-reward addition. In the pass-heavy NFC South, Atlanta needs depth to endure the rigors of an entire NFL season.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
