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The Atlanta Falcons have locked up one of their core players on defense, signing cornerback Desmond Trufant to a five-year extension.
The deal is worth $69 million with $42 million in guarantees, a person with knowledge of the contract confirmed to USA TODAY Sports, speaking on condition of anonymity because financials hadn’t been released.
Trufant, 26, missed the end of last season and the Falcons’ Super Bowl run because of a shoulder injury. He was entering the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, worth a little over $8 million.
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I wanna thank Mr. Blank, TD, DQ, for giving me this opportunity to continue my career in ATL. Thanks to all my teammates and the fans! TRU
— Desmond Trufant (@DesmondTrufant) April 8, 2017
2017 NFL post-free agency power rankings
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1. Patriots (previously: 1) – The defending champs added dynamic WR Brandin Cooks and Pro Bowl CB Stephon Gilmore. With Gronk back, New England is only widening the gap between itself and the rest of the league.
Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports
2. Falcons (2) – It’s status quo in Atlanta, where the offseason brought few changes beyond the arrival of DT Dontari Poe. New offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has to keep the top-scoring unit humming.
Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
3. Packers (3) – TE Martellus Bennett was the once-in-a-blue-moon offseason signing for Green Bay. G T.J. Lang has to be replaced and a RB likely will be added in the draft, but the Packers’ attack could be on the upswing.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
4. Cowboys (4) – A chunk of the starting secondary is gone, though Stephen Jones says some of the defensive attrition was by design. Let’s check back on how that plan is faring come September.
Matthew Emmons, Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
5. Steelers (6) – Pittsburgh locked down RB Le’Veon Bell and WR Antonio Brown, and Big Ben’s retirement talk hasn’t amounted to much more than a murmur. Is this the year all the pieces finally click?
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
6. Seahawks (5) – Adding Luke Joeckel doesn’t constitute sufficient reinforcement for one of the league’s most vulnerable offensive lines. New RB Eddie Lacy will have to stay slim and be more Beast Mode than Feast Mode.
John David Mercer, USA TODAY Spor
7. Raiders (7): Mark Davis says he wants to bring a title to the Bay Area in the years before the Silver and Black bolt for Las Vegas. If the 26th-ranked defense doesn’t improve, that plan could go bust.
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports
8. Chiefs (8) – Retaining S Eric Berry should keep a fearsome defense intact for foreseeable future. But is this ceiling for offense under QB Alex Smith and his reserved tendencies?
Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports
9. Titans (10) – Loading up the secondary with S Johnathan Cyprien and CB Logan Ryan should help repair the 30th-ranked pass defense. Now it’s time to go get Marcus Mariota more weapons in the draft.
Christopher Hanewinckel, Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODA
10. Giants (11) – There was no $200 million spending spree this time around, but bringing on WR Brandon Marshall and keeping DE Jason Pierre-Paul made for two of the offseason’s biggest and most important moves.
Seth Wenig, AP
11. Dolphins (9) – Laremy Tunsil takes over guarding Ryan Tannehill’s blind side after Branden Albert was shipped to Jacksonville. Will reuniting with Adam Gase help TE Julius Thomas revive his career?
Steve Mitchell, Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
12. Broncos (12) – Vance Joseph takes over a contender that still has plenty of unanswered questions, including at QB. G Ron Leary and OT Menelik Watson shore up the line, but left tackle must be addressed.
Chris Humphreys, USA TODAY Sports
13. Lions (13) – Detroit will face plenty of doubters as it seeks consecutive playoffs berths for the first time since 1995. Will a bolstered offensive line pave the way for improvements by the 30th-ranked rushing attack?
Raj Mehta, USA TODAY Sports
14. Buccaneers (17) – DeSean Jackson may be the perfect complement to Mike Evans in the passing game. More staying power is needed from Dirk Koetter’s crew after a hot run in the second half of the season eventually fizzled out.
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports
15. Texans (14) – It took a second-round pick to ship off Brock Osweiler, and now Houston is back in QB purgatory. With Tony Romo headed to the broadcast booth, the options are dwindling to upgrade from Tom Savage.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports
16. Ravens (21) – A long-maligned secondary was aided by the additions of S Tony Jefferson and CB Brandon Carr. The offense, however, is hampered by WR Steve Smith Sr.’s retirement and a lack of young playmakers.
Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports
17. Vikings (16) – The Adrian Peterson era is over, but it’s unclear how much better off the offense is with Latavius Murray at RB and a reshuffling of the offensive tackles. Better luck on the injury front could provide a significant boost.
Brace Hemmelgarn, Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sport
18. Cardinals (19) – Even as the team prepares to ride RB David Johnson, it’s time to find a successor for Carson Palmer at QB. Arizona’s defensive depth will be tested after losing five starters in free agency.
Jason Getz, USA TODAY Sports
19. Redskins (15) – The firing of GM Scot McCloughan returned Washington to its seemingly natural state of entropy. Josh Doctson must step up opposite new addition Terrelle Pryor to make up for the loss of two 1,000-yard receivers.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports
20. Colts (20) – First-year GM Chris Ballard hasn’t been shy in shearing the roster of predecessor Ryan Grigson’s mistakes. The defense – particularly the pass rush – might still be a year or two from breaking into the middle of the pack.
Steve Mitchell, Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
21. Saints (18) – Finally freed from the salary-cap restraints of past years, New Orleans still took a measured approach in free agency. That might not be enough to lift the league’s worst pass defense.
Derick E. Hingle, Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sport
22. Panthers (22) – Cam Newton’s shoulder surgery adds more mystery as to what version of him Carolina can expect in 2017. Julius Peppers returns home, but the D remains a work in progress with Sean McDermott gone.
Kim Klement, Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
23. Eagles (25) – WRs Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith should rejuvenate one of the NFL’s most lackadaisical receiving corps. Now it’s on Carson Wentz to move past the growing pains that hampered his rookie season.
Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports
24. Jaguars (26) – CB A.J. Bouye and DL Calais Campbell made for impressive signings, but Jacksonville has seen its spending sprees go by the wayside before. Progress under Year 1 of Doug Marrone may hinge on Blake Bortles.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
25. Chargers (24) – The Bolts are going to have to play a game far bigger than their 27,000-seat stadium to win over fans in L.A. Russell Okung should provide much needed protection for Philip Rivers.
Jake Roth, USA TODAY Sports
26. Bills (28) – Buffalo avoided the nuclear option by agreeing to a reworked contract with Tyrod Taylor. There are still pieces to pick up from Rex Ryan’s failed reign, but the roster has promising talent at multiple spots.
Kevin Hoffman, USA TODAY Sports
27. Bengals (23) –
Cincinnati’s stingy habits were all the more painful after a 6-9-1 season. Andy Dalton’s well-documented struggles with pressure will be put to the test after the team’s two best offensive linemen departed.
Troy Taormina, Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
28. Rams (27) – The NFL’s youngest team is now being led by 31-year-old Sean McVay. Wade Phillips brings an established presence to the defense, but patience will be paramount for the second season in Los Angeles.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
29. Bears (29) – John Fox and Ryan Pace are banking on Mike Glennon showing more than he did in his 5-13 run as a starting QB with the Buccaneers. It’s little wonder they gave themselves a ripcord after Year 1 of his deal.
Terrence Antonio James, AP
30. 49ers (29) – New GM John Lynch exhibited restraint in free agency, opting for middle-tier signings rather than big names. But laying the groundwork for coach Kyle Shanahan’s attack will take time.
Kyle Terada, Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
31. Jets (30) – Can 37-year-old Josh McCown, who has never started 16 games in a season, be a passable bridge QB? And with Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg behind him, does that bridge lead anywhere?
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports
32. Browns (32) – G Kevin Zeitler helps shore up a line that surrendered 66 sacks last season, but Cleveland can’t spend its way out of this hole. The draft haul is integral for building a solid foundation.
Glenn Andrews, USA TODAY Sports
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