The Atlanta Falcons are reportedly close to landing a contract extension with star cornerback Desmond Trufant. The deal will reportedly be between $12 to $14 million a year, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“Negotiations between the Falcons and Trufant’s representatives picked up at the combine and will likely be finalized within the next 24 hours. Trufant’s deal is expected to land in the $12 million to $14 million per year range, just south of the five-year $75 million deal that Redskins signed Josh Norman to last season,” reports Ledbetter.
Trufant missed Atlanta’s playoff run this year with a torn pectoral muscle (more on that here), but is considered one of the best corners in the league.
If he recovers well from the injury, Atlanta will be locking up a shutdown corner capable of covering the league’s best receivers.
In 2015, when healthy, Trufant had an 82.2 PFF grade and Atlanta’s defense — which finished 22nd in overall defensive DVOA — was seventh in DVOA allowed to opposing No. 1 wide receivers.
A healthy Trufant next to Jalen Collins and Brian Poole will form a formidable secondary in Atlanta for years to come.