Report: Desmond Trufant, Falcons nearing extension?

Desmond Trufant’s injury left a little bit of a “what might have been” pall over the Falcons’ magical season, given the way the defense was eviscerated late by the New England Patriots. On the other hand, the secondary was pretty impressive without Trufant, which led a handful of fans and pundits to speculate that he might be on his way out.

Here’s the rub: Trufant is a star, one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, and there was absolutely no question his presence would have helped in the Super Bowl. There’s also no question he’s getting a fat contract extension, and as D. Orlando Ledbetter wrote over the weekend, he’s going to get one.

The Falcons would like wrap up Trufant’s deal quickly because they can start talking to agents for unrestricted players on Tuesday and the league’s new business year starts on Thursday. When the Trufant deal is done, the Falcons will know how much they have to spend in free agency.

I’d fully anticipate that we’ll catch wind of the re-signing early this week, perhaps as early as later today. Trufant wants to be in Atlanta, the Falcons want him here over the long haul, and the secondary is going to be that much better in 2017 with him (hopefully) healthy for the entire season. With Robert Alford also locked up, Jalen Collins with two years left on his rookie deal, Ricardo Allen an exclusive-rights free agent and Keanu Neal just wrapping up his awesome first year, this secondary is in great shape in the near-term.

Let’s keep it that way.