Falcons Release Desmond Trufant After Failing to Trade to DB | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the move came because the team failed to find a taker on the trade market.

The move will save the Falcons around $5 million on their 2020 cap. The Falcons had less than $1 million in projected cap space entering Monday, the second-worst figure in the NFL.

Trufant, 29, was limited to nine games last season because of injury. He recorded 18 tackles and a career-high four interceptions nonetheless.

"He came on last year and probably had one of his more productive seasons," Falcons defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said last week, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Grabbing four picks…he had two in one game and two in another. He played well. We look forward to all of those guys coming back."

Morris was speaking of Trufant as if he expected him back in 2020, so his release may come as a surprise to the coaching staff. The Washington product has spent his entire NFL career in Atlanta since being the No. 22 overall pick in the 2013 draft. He made his lone Pro Bowl in 2015 and has been a solid, albeit non-elite, fixture in the secondary.

Teams will likely jump at the opportunity to sign Trufant on a short-term contract. Contenders looking to buy low on a one-year "prove it" deal will likely contact Trufant, who himself may want to prove he can stay healthy and productive in 2020 before returning to free agency.