After a month spent wading into free agency waters, Marcus Trufant returned to familiar surroundings by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks, the team announced Monday.
Trufant was released by the Sea-hawks a week before free agency opened March 13 in a cost-cutting move. The Wilson High and Washington State University product was due to make $7.2 million in base salary in 2012, along with a $100,000 workout bonus.
The Seahawks saved $4.46 million in salary cap space and freed up $7.3 million in cash by releasing Trufant.
Trufant’s role in Seattle remained a question mark, with Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner emerging as Seattle’s starting cornerbacks last season. Browner made the Pro Bowl in his first season as a starter, and Sherman finished with four interceptions and 55 tackles in 10 starts as a rookie.
Trufant visited Denver during the first week of free agency but never reached a deal with the Broncos.
But with backup cornerback Walter Thurmond’s availability for the beginning of training camp in July uncertain after he suffered a broken leg in October at Cleveland, Trufant offers some insurance and experienced depth in the defensive backfield.
With Trufant, Seattle has nine cornerbacks and 71 players total on the team’s 80-man roster.
The team’s offseason program officially begins April 16.
By rejoining the Sea-hawks, Trufant, 31, again becomes the most tenured Seattle player on the roster.
Selected No. 11 overall by the Seahawks in the 2003 draft, Trufant has played in 124 games for Seattle, with 21 career interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
Trufant made his only Pro Bowl in 2007.
Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.wiliams@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks
