What Does a Successful Rookie Campaign Look Like for Desmond Trufant?

Quick discussion post for the insomniacs. Tonight we're discussing expectations, specifically our expectations for Desmond Trufant. Thomas Dimitroff is sometimes criticized for his drafting prowess. Not entirely shocking, because right or wrong, fans expect a lot from draft picks. But when it comes down to it, it's the players, not the GM, who have to perform. There's incredible pressure to perform, especially when you're drafted in the first round.

No recent Falcons draft pick may have felt that pressure like Trufant likely will. Sure, Matt Ryan faced lofty expectations, but he also joined a team in desperation. If Ryan had flopped, we'd have just had more suck piling on the suck that was already there. Julio Jones similarly felt immense pressure to perform, but the Falcons didn't need him to succeed immediately. He was afforded a learning curve, courtesy of the offensive weapons the Falcons already had. Trufant has no such luxury. With the departure of Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson, the Falcons corner back corps was decidedly thin prior to the draft. Arguably Dimitroff took a very deliberate approach to resolving that problem. That said, both Trufant and Robert Alford will have fill big shoes.

We know Trufant has the pedigree. We know he can move his feet like Dave after a happy hour at Hooters. But make no mistake, there's work to be done. He has to play physical, technique-conscious football. He has to maintain his versatility, realizing the Falcons will likely feature him in both the slot and outside. No easy task, if you ask me. But that's not what we're doing here - we're asking you: what would you consider a successful season for Trufant?

Discuss!