Robert Alford

Robert Alford signs four-year extension with Atlanta Falcons

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford has agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $38 million, $21 million guaranteed to stay in Atlanta.

Slowly, but surely, the Atlanta Falcons defense is getting better under second-year head coach Dan Quinn. The pass rush is no longer abysmal and Atlanta has always leaned on its secondary in recent years.

On Thursday morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Falcons are signing cornerback Robert Alford to a four-year contract extension worth $38 million, $21 million of that is guaranteed.

Atlanta drafted Alford in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Southeastern Louisiana. He and cornerback Desmond Trufant have been staples on the outside for the Falcons since coming into the league together in 2013.

While Trufant has been an elite shutdown corner when he is healthy, Alford has been hit or miss in the Atlanta secondary. Coaches love Alford’s tenacity, man-coverage skills, ball-hawking ability, and overall aggressiveness. However, he is one of the most heavily penalized players on the Falcons. Alford will garner a painful pass interference call every week for the Falcons. He’s not particularly a fan favorite in Atlanta. However, he is a favorite of many on Quinn’s coaching staff. They believe that he plays with the quickness and explosiveness to be a cornerstone in this Falcons defense for years.

Alford will garner a painful pass interference call every week for the Falcons so he’s not particularly a fan favorite in Atlanta. However, he is a favorite of many on Quinn’s coaching staff. They believe he plays with the quickness and explosiveness to be a cornerstone for the Falcons defense for years.

Scheme and continuity will be the crucial components for the Falcons to emerge as a top-tier defense in the coming years. Realistically, they need about one more draft to get all the players they need to run Quinn’s 4-3 under base scheme effectively.

Finding that Earl Thomas type at free safety in the NFL Draft or free agency will be a challenge for Atlanta. Re-upping with Alford for four more years ensures he will play his best ball in an Atlanta uniform. Atlanta should have the roster by the end of the decade to have pushed for a Super Bowl or two and Alford will be a big reason if Atlanta gets to its second Super Bowl in franchise history.