The Seattle Seahawks have signed cornerback Marcus Trufant to a six-year, $50 million contract, locking up their 27-year-old shutdown corner for the prime of his career.
The deal includes $20 million in guaranteed money, $28 million over the first three years and $34 million over the first four. As a practical matter, Trufant is virtually guaranteed to make the $28 million over the first three years, before his 30th birthday.
The Seahawks had placed the franchise tag on Trufant. There have now been two franchise players who have signed long-term deals, Trufant and the Colts' Dallas Clark, and two more who have signed their franchise tenders, the Bengals' Stacy Andrews and the Panthers' Jordan Gross.
This is the Seahawks' second big move to bolster their defense for the long term this week, after signing linebacker Lofa Tatupu to a six-year, $40 million extension. The next Seattle coach, Jim Mora, knows who the corps players in his defense will be for the forseeable future.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Is this a case of the hometown discount? It seems like that contract is pretty well below market value given the deals DeAngelo Hall and Asante Samuel signed.
Posted at 10:45AM on Mar 26th 2008 by Tom Mantzouranis
2. tom - I think this is a case of an athlete understanding that it's much more important to keep the golden goose alive, than to kill it trying to get a bigger egg!
Lofa Tatupu lead the charge last week by accepting a very lucrative, yet franchise-friendly long term deal, and it's nice to see players and an organization working together instead of as adversaries.
This will also free up some cap space so the Seahawks can now concentrate on their other need positions of TE and Kicker.
Great day to be a Seahawks fan, indeed!
Posted at 11:10AM on Mar 26th 2008 by alba
3. What a great team player. He's going to be making slightly over 8 million a year, which snt bad compared to Deangelo Hall, Asante Samuel, and Nate Clements. I wouldnt call it a hometown discount, More like a guy who is inselfish and cares for all of his teammates. Not only can they afford to draft and sign Fred Davis out of USC, but they call also extend Leroy Hill, giving us arguably the strongest Linebacking Corps in the NFL. Look for our boys to make run next year, with a young talented TE, and 2 solid running backs. We have fixed our weaknesses and get our best players. Great job and kudos to Tim Ruskell!!!
Posted at 12:28PM on Mar 26th 2008 by T90fisher1986
4. Great job by everybody. This is why the Seahawks make the playoffs every year. We have winners on our team, and they care more about winning than money. Trufant has more talent than Samuel or Hall, he is probaly the best CB in the NFL right nowm, and he isn't a sell-out. He will be a perenial Pro-Bowler now and Hall and Samuel won't make another one. It is Karma. I love you Trufant.
Posted at 1:47PM on Mar 26th 2008 by Buvi Duvi
5. this is perfect but i would like to point out 1 thing..Fred Davis is not the best TE in the draft its Dustin Keller from Purdue. he has great hands and runs a 4.5 forty. the only thing he has to get better at is blocking. with the 1st round pick im positive seattle is going to pick him
Posted at 1:59PM on Mar 27th 2008 by SuperSeahawksFan
6. Way to Jim Mora. Defense win games. Signing up Marcus Trufant and Lofa Tatupu will help the Seahawks win games.
Posted at 12:36AM on Mar 30th 2008 by George B Vieto