Despite a season-ending injury last year, the two parties have agreed to terms on a long-term extension.
One of the Falcons’ draft picks in 2013 will remain with Atlanta for an extended stay. Per an earlier report today by Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post, Falcons CB Desmond Trufant signed, sealed and delivered a five-year extension, which promises $42 million out of the expected $69 million deal. It’s a blessing in disguise for Trufant, who witnessed his 2016 regular season cut short by a pectoral shoulder mid-season.
A graduate from the University of Washington, Trufant would experience a collegiate career alongside then-teammates QB Jake Locker, RB Bishop Sankey and LB Shaq Thompson. Enrolling as a freshman in 2009, Trufant would manage to record one of his best statistical years as a Husky.
Later that same year, Trufant would log in three seven-tackle performances against UCLA, Oregon State and Cal. It’s actually worth noting that Trufant victimized the Oregon State offense a lot, registering 28 career tackles (the most of any opponent).
Following a successful bout in the college arena, Trufant never slowed down in the NFL. Drafted 22nd overall by the Falcons in the 2013 NFL Draft, Trufant would prove pivotal to their defense. In terms of accolades, though, Trufant wouldn’t be recognized by the league until 2015, when Trufant attended his first Pro Bowl. Then a bad news bear struck Trufant during Week 9 of the 2016 regular season. Since then, Trufant would find himself in Club Med, healing from a season-ending injury.
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The Cinderella story of the 2016 NFL season that is the Atlanta Falcons was a glorious streak. Second-year HC Dan Quinn ignored his .500 W-L record in 2015 and proceeded to the following year at a different tempo.
Obviously, that carried some beneficial weight, seeing as the Falcons made a run for Super Bowl 51, but blew a 28-3 lead to the eventual NFL champions, the New England Patriots. Despite that folly, the 11-3 final record would be the best finish to a season since 2012 (13-3).