
The Eagles are expected to be big players for a cornerback in free agency and another intriguing name is about to hit the market.
The Falcons are reportedly going to release Desmond Trufant this week, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
According to NFL Network, the Falcons tried to first trade Trufant but couldn’t find any takers, so now they’ll cut him. The former Pro Bowler was owed a base salary of $10.75 million in 2020, which is likely why the Falcons were unable to trade him.
But Trufant is still pretty good.
Now 29, Trufant had a toe injury and then a broken forearm in 2019 that limited him to just nine games. But he still managed to pull in a career-high four interceptions. Two of those four INTs came against Carson Wentz and the Eagles on Sept. 15 in Atlanta.
That, of course, isn’t Trufant’s only connection to the Eagles. This offseason, the Eagles hired Marquand Manuel as their new defensive backs coach. Manuel was Trufant’s position coach and later his defensive coordinator in Atlanta.
In fact, Trufant’s only Pro Bowl season in 2015 came in his first year under Manuel, who was the Falcons’ secondary coach for two seasons before taking over as defensive coordinator for two seasons.
The NFL’s legal tampering period is scheduled to begin at noon on Monday and free agency will officially start at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. With around $40 million in cap space, the Eagles are expected to be big players in free agency, especially at the cornerback position.
The player they’ve been linked to most is Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones, who will likely command around $17 million per season. Trufant is older but would be a more cost-effective option and with his connection to Manuel, it’s an intriguing one.
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