The Atlanta Falcons have made it a priority this offseason to sign one of the anchor’s of their defense, cornerback Desmond Trufant to a long-term contract extension. Trufant, 26, is entering the 5th year of his rookie contract at $8.026 million.
“Our next major move is going to be Desmond,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said to Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week. “Once we get that done, we have the next tier of guys that we are going to get finalized. Then we’ll keep our eyes open in free agency.”
Trufant was the 22nd pick in 2013 NFL Draft and has cemented himself as one of the NFL’s premier corners. Trufant missed the second half of the 2016 season as well as Atlanta’s Super Bowl run due to a torn pectoral.
Within the past few months the Falcons gave cornerback Robert Alford a four-year contract worth $38 million including $12 million guaranteed.
The Falcons needs to be mindful of the salary cap implications when locking up Trufant, who is in line for a significant payday. Consider some of the contracts that premier cornerbacks, like Trufant, signed.
- Josh Norman: $75 million contract with $36.5 million guaranteed (5 years)
- Darius Slay: $48 million with $23.1 million guaranteed (5 years)
- Janoris Jenkins: $62.5 million with $28.8 million guaranteed (5 years)
“We have a fortunate situation right now, where we are able to sign two corners because we have the young linebackers, young safeties and a young defensive end,” Dimitroff said. “In time, we’ll have to be creative with that, but for now we are in a good spot.”
For now it seems there is some progress being made in contract talks between the Falcons and their prized cornerback.