FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons today agreed to terms with 2008 NFL Draft third round selections, cornerback Chevis Jackson (68th overall) and safety Thomas DeCoud (98th overall), to four-year contracts and released tight end George Cooper.
Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Jackson, 5-11, 185 pounds, was highly regarded as a shutdown cornerback during his four-year career with the LSU Tigers. In 50 games played, he started 40 contests while recording 142 tackles (103 solo), eight interceptions, 36 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Jackson earned All-America third-team honors by The NFL Draft Report following his senior campaign while garnering All-SEC first-team accolades by the league’s coaches.
DeCoud (pronounced Day-Cooh), 6-0, 197 pounds, started 45 career games at the University of California and totaled 198 career tackles (115 solo), one sack, one interception, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Last season, he was named an All-Pac 10 honorable mention selection while serving as the team’s defensive captain.
Cooper, a product of Georgia Tech, spent the entire 2007 season on the Falcons practice squad.
