The Seattle Seahawks designated cornerback Richard Sherman their franchise player, it was announced by the team today.
By placing the franchise tag on Trufant, Seattle will tender a minimum of the average salary of the top five cornerbacks in the National Football League, or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater. Trufant will be free to negotiate with any other team, but the Seahawks can match any offer or receive two first-round draft choices if they decide not to match.
"We are excited that Marcus will remain a Seahawk," said President & General Manager Tim Ruskell. "We will continue to talk with his representative in hopes of securing a long-term deal which is our goal."
Trufant, a Tacoma native and Washington State product, was originally selected by the Seahawks as the 11th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. He has started all 78 career games played and finished second on the team in 2007 with 85 tackles (78 solo), leading the team with 16 passes defensed with a career-high seven interceptions, returning one for his first-career touchdown while earning his first-career Pro Bowl berth.
