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The Atlanta Falcons have talked about using their cap space to re-sign some of their best young players, and so far, so good. Desmond Trufant is the latest to receive an extension, and as you’d imagine, it’s a sizeable one.
Sources: Desmond Trufant has agreed to massive 5-year contract extension w/the #Falcons. Deal is worth $69M w/nearly $42M guaranteed.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 8, 2017
Trufant will be 27 years old this season, and has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL since he arrived on the team back in 2013. He was a somewhat controversial pick at the time because the Falcons moved up to get him, but considering he’s easily the best CB taken in that class and has been a tremendous asset for Atlanta, those complaints have gone away. Aside from the injury that wiped him out after nine weeks in 2016, he’s been durable, too.
Given that, it’s little surprise the Falcons have re-upped with Trufant, who should have several stellar years ahead. We don’t know the terms of the deal just yet, but Atlanta will likely try to put the biggest cap hits down the line so they can still afford to make a modest splash in free agency this year.
With Robert Alford and Trufant under contract and several other players on their first contracts, I look forward to the Falcons having one of the best secondaries in football over (at least) the next couple of seasons, and Trufant being at the center of that.