Raiders Add Pro Bowl Corner Desmond Trufant

Desmond Trufant in 2019
Desmond Trufant in 2019. Photo by Trask Smith/CSM/Shutterstock (10439494af)

The Las Vegas Raiders added depth to their secondary on Tuesday by signing veteran corner Desmond Trufant. The move was announced by Trufant’s agent Doug Hendrickson on social media.

Trufant, who was a Pro Bowler in 2015, started the season with the Chicago Bears but didn’t make it to Week 1. He was picked up by the New Orleans Saints later but only played two games, in which he had three tackles, and one pass defended, before being released.

The Raiders needed depth at cornerback after Trayvon Mullen Jr. and Damon Arnette landed on injured reserve earlier in the season. They worked out several players but liked Trufant the most, probably because he can contribute right away.

Trufant spent the first seven years of his career with the Atlanta Falcons, who selected him in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was a key part of the team’s secondary during his time there and played a part in the Falcons’ road to Super Bowl LI appearance. Atlanta released Trufant after the 2019 NFL season even though he had career-high four interceptions during the regular part of the campaign.

The 31-year-old, who also played one year with the Detroit Lions, has 349 career tackles to go with 6.0 sacks, 14 interceptions, 83 passes defended, and three forced fumbles.

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