Once the free-agency frenzy fades and clubs have made a myriad of signings, it usually takes players without a job time to find a new home. Such was the case of a former Jacksonville Jaguars draft bust, who had to wait until the preseason to latch onto a team.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that former cornerback C.J. Henderson has signed with the Atlanta Falcons. The news comes in light of a meeting the sixth-year cornerback and the team had in July.
It's worth noting that Henderson drew interest from other teams, according to Rapoport. However, he chose the Falcons and will officially join them if he passes the physical.
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CJ Henderson flopped with the Jaguars
Based on the news report, it looks like C.J. Henderson was selective about the team he chose. He most likely looked for a place where he's going to have a chance to play, something he didn't have in 2024, when he spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A first-overall pick by the Jaguars in the 2020 draft, C.J. Henderson flashed as a rookie, but a groin injury cut his season short after suiting up for just seven games. He then underwent labrum surgery the following offseason and missed a good chunk of training camp for a myriad of reasons.
Three games into the 2021 season, Jacksonville had seen enough of Henderson and sent him packing to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a third-round selection and tight end Dan Arnold.
The former Florida Gator went on to have an unremarkable stint with the Panthers, appearing in 39 games with 22 starts and logging two interceptions. He signed with the Houston Texans last year but was released just before the regular season began.
Henderson went on to land on the Steleers practice squad but didn't log any snaps in the regular season. Now, he'll get a chance to keep his NFL career alive.
CJ Henderson gets a chance with the Falcons (but won't be handed anything)
As a rookie, C.J. Henderson was tasked with replacing All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. That was, without a doubt, a tall order. Ultimately, he came up short. At the time, there was a chance he might've landed in a less-than-ideal situation, but after a pair of underwhelming stints with two different NFL clubs, it's fair to say that he may simply not be that good.
With the Falcons, Henderson will have a chance to earn a backup role. However, he will have his work cut out. A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes are their top cornerbacks, and he won't be unseating them any time soon. Lamar Jackson, Clark Phillips III, Dee Alford, and Billy Bowman Jr. are also in the mix.
It's hard tell if Henderson will ultimately make the cut, but he'll most definitely get a chance. If he comes up short, though, he may not get another opportunity in a while.