There will be – if there isn’t already – plenty of chatter about the Bears signing Desmond Trufant to replace Kyle Fuller. But that’s not how I’m necessarily thinking about the deal. If anything, Jaylon Johnson was drafted in 2020 to slide into Fuller’s role. So in a way, Trufant is replacing Johnson. No matter how you slice it, the Bears have a new corner. One who has been solid when healthy, but hasn’t put together a full 16-game season since 2018. That’s a red flag, but one I’m willing to see play out over the year to come.
We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. But in the meantime, let’s get to know a new guy.
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Player, Age (in 2021), Position
Desmond Trufant, 31, cornerback
Measurables
6-0, 190 pounds
Performance
2020 stats: 6 games (6 starts), 1 interception, 4 passes defended, 1 sack, 20 tackles (16 solo), 1 tackle-for-loss, 1 quarterback hit
Career stats: 103 games (103 starts) 14 interceptions, 83 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, 2 defensive touchdowns, 6 sacks, 349 tackles (288 solo), 10 tackles-for-loss, 7 quarterback hits
PFF grades: 38.4 (2020), 70.2 (2019), 69.5 (2018), 78.5 (2017), 70.2 (2016), 72.8 (2015), 81.4 (2014), 82.8 (2013).
Accolades: Pro Bowl (2015), First-Team All-Pro (Pro Football Weekly, 2014), All-Rookie Team (2013), NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 2, 2017)
Highlights
https://youtu.be/2A9D_p4gAb8
That’s Certainly One Way to Spin It
Desmond Trufant literally intercepted the ball SITTING DOWN ๐ฑ pic.twitter.com/J6zRLE7MhM
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 16, 2019
Back in Seattle, Desmond Trufant was mic'd up.
He hit Russell Wilson so hard, that he broke the mic. ๐ pic.twitter.com/Lt9T4Q6c7Q
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 8, 2017
We won't forget this play by Vic Beasley & Desmond Trufant any time soon. pic.twitter.com/vaeyhEDBzb
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 21, 2017
The Fit
I was intrigued by Matt Bowen’s insight when discussing the Lions signing Trufant as a free agent last offseason:
On CB Desmond Trufant to #Lions…
Like NE & MIA, DET is a heavy man-coverage defense (Cover 1, 2-Man). In '19, Lions played man on 65.9% of opponent dropbacks (2nd most in NFL).
Trufant has the coverage skills/transition ability (in press/off) to fit the scheme.@NFLMatchup pic.twitter.com/zbNSzGdir5
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) March 19, 2020
Also, while digging through Trufant’s statistical profile, I realized he was more than a run-of-the-mill cover corner. Trufant’s six sacks, 10 tackles-for-loss, and seven QB Hits are more than what Kyle Fuller has in his 96-game career. And those numbers have me wondering if new defensive play-caller Sean Desai will use his corners more aggressively in 2021.
The Bears cornerbacks room became awfully young after parting ways with Kyle Fuller and Buster Skrine. Before adding Trufant, Chicago’s returning cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Kindle Vildor, and Duke Shelley were set to enter the 2021 season with a grand total of 16 starts under their belts. So, yeah, I think Trufant’s 103 games of experience have value at some point down the line.
Of course, how much value we’ll see on Sundays depends on Trufant’s health. Based on his injury history, I’ll be surprised if Trufant is the only starting-caliber corner who comes to town this offseason. Durability and availability are two important traits, especially at cornerback. And when your defense is set to square off against Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, and Jared Goff, having healthy defensive backs is as important as good ones.