Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
After letting cornerback Brent Grimes test his value on the open market, the Atlanta Falcons are in need of a new cornerback to fill the void. They appear to have targeted Washington cover man Desmond Trufant, who visited with the team on Thursday.
Considered by many to be a late first-round talent, Trufant seems to be a terrific fit for the Falcons.
The former Husky is a phenomenal athlete and cover cornerback, using tremendous instincts, foot speed and agility to mirror wide receivers and make plays on the ball. During both the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, Trufant proved that he has the physical tools to step in on Day 1 and start.
The biggest setback for Trufant is his reluctance to step up and play the run. Although he has shown an ability to make plays against the running game, Trufant often tends to shy away from getting dirty and will need to play with more reckless abandon before he can lock down a starting job.
His physicality with receivers is intriguing, especially for the Falcons and their defensive scheme. Although there is a bit of risk attached to Trufant, Atlanta has the coaching staff and surrounding talent to give him the support he needs as he begins his NFL career.
After blowing away numerous pre-draft workouts, Trufant has solidified his standing as a first-round talent. If he’s still available at No. 30, you better believe the Falcons will take a good, hard look at him.
That is, of course, assuming their meeting went well. Then again, there’s a good chance that the Falcons will be linked to a few other top cornerbacks before the draft day arrives.
I guess we’ll find out on April 25.
Gil Alcaraz IV is a Content Planner/NFL Featured Columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
