Bleacher Report's NFL 1000 series continued on Wednesday, as Matt Miller counted down the league's best cornerbacks. The Falcons, unsurprisingly, were well-represented.
Robert Alford appeared at No. 29 overall, while Desmond Trufant, who is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance, earned the No. 5 spot.
Only Chris Harris, Jr., Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Matthieu finished ahead of the 2013 first round pick.
"Desmond Trufant's emergence continued in 2015. He is already one of the NFL's best cornerbacks but continues to improve at just 25 years old," wrote Miller, who added that Trufant's quickness and short-area burst make him an exceptional tackler.
"Trufant isn't big. He relies on his quick feet and mirroring ability to stick with receivers through their routes downfield. When he lines up in off coverage, Trufant can anticipate routes and rely on his short-area burst to break on the ball. He can do anything you ask him to do."
Alford took big strides forward in 2015, as well, establishing himself as a physical, big-play defensive back who still has a lot of room to grow.
"Robert Alford proved to be an ideal fit in Dan Quinn's Cover 3-heavy defense," Miller said. "Alford showed off the ability to recognize routes and quickly adjust, shifting his weight comfortably while playing at speed. The 5-foot-10 cornerback was able to get his hands on a lot of passes by combining those traits with an understanding of how to use his length when the ball was in the air."
With Trufant and Alford in tow, Atlanta boasts one of the league's best cornerback duos. And they know it.
