With a battle for a starting position looming, Falcons first-round pick Desmond Trufant wanted to be in training camp on time.
The prospect of missing practice time for a few more thousands of dollars didn’t make much sense to him. So, Wednesday morning, he signed a four-year, $8.16 million contract with the team.
Shortly after signing, he drove his black Dodge Challenger into the parking lot in front of the team’s training-camp condominiums and checked in for camp.
“It’s just good to be here on time,” said Trufant, who received a $4.31 million signing bonus. “I’m just excited and ready to work now.”
Trufant didn’t get frustrated through the negotiating process.
“I knew that it was going to get done,” Trufant said. “There is definitely a business side to it, I understand that. Things take time. It’s done now, and I’m ready to work.”
The team also signed seventh-round pick Sean Renfree, a quarterback from Duke.
With Trufant and Renfree signed, the Falcons have all eight of their 2013 draft picks on board. Now, the team can turn its focus to working out a contract extension for quarterback Matt Ryan.
Doug Hendrickson of Octagon football represented Trufant. He also represents four other Falcons and has a good working relationship with the franchise.
“Desmond made a point to me early on that he wasn’t going to miss any camp,” Hendrickson said. “He’s raring to go.”
The Falcons made a major draft-day trade with the St. Louis Rams to move up seven spots in the first round to select Trufant with the 22nd overall pick. The teams switched positions in the first round, and the Falcons traded a third- and a sixth-round pick to the Rams.
Trufant, 22, participated in the team’s rookie camp in May and part of the OTAs in June. Because of NFL rules, he could not participate in some of the OTAs because he had work to complete toward his degree from the University of Washington.
While Trufant prepared for final exams, the Falcons sent materials and used the video conferencing site Skype to communicate with Trufant in order to help him get ready.
“The strength staff gave us a training book, and I used that,” he said. “I worked out with my brothers back at home and on my own. I’m definitely ready to go.”
Two of Trufant’s brothers, Marcus and Isaiah, play in the NFL. Marcus, an 11-year veteran, is with Jacksonville, and Isaiah, a three-year veteran, is with the New York Jets.
After letting three of their top five cornerbacks leave after last season, the Falcons needed to re-stock the position. They are high on Trufant, who starred at Washington and is listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.
With Brent Grimes (Miami), Dunta Robinson (Kansas City) and Christopher Owens (Cleveland) gone, Trufant is expected to compete for the starting right cornerback position. The Falcons also selected cornerback Robert Alford in the second around.
“I’m just here to work,” Trufant said. “I can only control what I can do. I’m going to just put my best foot forward. There is competition at every level, and I’m just going to focus on me and control what I can control.”
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