The Falcons have locked down their lockdown cornerback.
Desmond Trufant agreed to terms on a five-year extension worth $68.75 million with $42 million guarantees to remain in Atlanta on Saturday, a source informed told NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The team later confirmed the extension. Jordan Schultz of The Huffington Post was the first to report the news.
Trufant will average $14.75 million over three years, according to Rapoport, making him among the four highest-paid players at his position. Earns $33 million by March 2018, Rapoport added.
Extension talks had been heating up between the Falcons and their star cover man. Trufant suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in late November, but the team clearly had no hesitation about keeping the 26-year-old star for the long haul. Trufant was slated to earn $8.026 million in the fifth and final year of his rookie deal for this upcoming campaign.
Trufant's gaudy new contract figures put him in elite company among his peers. The Redskinsgave Josh Norman a five-year, $75 million deal with $50 million in guarantees last offseason. Back in 2014, the Cardinals and Patrick Peterson agreed to a five-year extension worth $70 million with $48 million guaranteed. Those are the only two cornerbacks with a higher total value on their contract than Trufant, per Spotrac.
He was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2015, and was on his way toward another strong campaign last year before his injury and ensuing surgery. Trufant racked up seven interceptions and 48 passes defensed in his first four seasons in the league. He's known for shutting down one side of the field in coverage, playing the Richard Sherman role in Dan Quinn's defense after the former Seahawks defensive coordinator was hired as Atlanta's head coach.
Trufant, a 2013 first-round pick, was not the only member of that Falcons draft class to get recently paid. Fellow corner and 2013 second-round pick Robert Alfordsigned a four-year extension worth $38 million with $21 million guaranteed in December.
With several promising young players along the defense still on their rookie contracts, the Falcons could afford to keep their top two cornerbacks around into the next decade.
