Cornerback Robert Alford, the Falcons’ second-round pick, signed a four-year contract with the team Friday.
The Falcons have signed six of their eight draft picks. Cornerback Desmond Trufant (first round) and quarterback Sean Renfree (seventh) remain unsigned.
Alford, who played at Southeastern Louisiana, was selected 60th in the NFL draft. The rest of the terms of his contract were undisclosed.
Falcons coach Mike Smith has been impressed with Alford and Trufant.
“They are not going to be able to contact (receivers) after 5 yards,” Smith said. “They are going to have really used their athleticism, and both of those guys are really athletic.”
Alford is 5-foot-10, 185 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.
Alford and Trufant have been getting good work against the Falcons’ receivers.
“When they get to line up against Julio (Jones), Roddy (White) and Harry (Douglas) and even Drew Davis and Kevin Cone, it challenges them because for the most part because they are big, physical guys,” Smith said. “That’s where they’re really going to have to work on their matchups because they are big receivers.”
Trufant was not at practice Friday because he had to fly back to Seattle for the University of Washington’s graduation Saturday.
Toilolo on hand: Falcons tight end Levine Toilolo was on hand Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after finishing his college work at Stanford. He graduates Sunday.
“He’s finished up his school obligations,” Smith said. “He’ll be leaving back out (Friday night) to be back for graduation. We are able to get him in here because he finished up his work.”
Toilolo, who’s 6-foot-7, was impressive.
“I think you can see that he creates some issues with his size, especially in there in the red zone,” Smith said. “We look forward to seeing him compete next week in our minicamp.”
The Falcons are not worried that he is too tall.
“One of the things that they we were really impressed with was his ability to bend … in the ankles and the hips and the way that he fits up with his run blocking,” Smith said. “Often times you think that guys that are that big are going to have a hard time winning the leverage battle. He has very good flexibility.”
Gonzalez excused: Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, who had contemplated retirement, will not be at the team's mandatory minicamp next week.
Smith said that Gonzalez, a future Hall of Famer, was excused from the workouts.
Smith hosts college coaches: Former Falcons Kevin Shaffer and Kynan Forney were on hand Friday for the OTA and Smith's sixth annual coaches' clinic.
“It’s great to see former players that are working with young men,” Smith said. “High school football is the pipeline for pro football.”
Shaffer recently was hired as the head coach at Hebron Christian Academy, and Forney is an assistant coach at Berkmar High in Gwinnett County. Several of the area high school coaches were on hand, including McEachern coach Kyle Hockman.
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