Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant just received a five-year, $69 million contract extension, making him one of the top-paid cornerbacks in league. Now Trufant is eager to show he can maintain an elite level of play and shut down any opposing receiver, including DeSean Jackson.

In looking ahead to the 2017 season, Trufant talked about the possibility of squaring off with Jackson, now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“He's obviously one of the best,” Trufant said. “He's been doing it for a long time now. I've been watching him for a long time, just kill people over and over again. I'm definitely excited to go up against a player like that two times a year.”

The Falcons' Desmond Trufant matched up with the Bucs' Mike Evans last season, and now is looking forward to going against DeSean Jackson as well. AP Photo/Jason Behnken

Trufant, who stands 6 feet and weighs 190 pounds, has shadowed receivers in the past, including the Buccaneers' top target, Mike Evans, who is 6-5, 231. Trufant also followed the now-retired Steve Smith, who is 5-9, 195.

Jackson, at 5-10, 175, is known for his speed, agility and ability to get deep. His career average of 17.7 yards per catch is the highest for any active player. Jackson has scored a touchdown of 60 yards or longer in each of the past eight seasons, including a career-best 91-yard score in 2010 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jackson is likely to be the “Z” receiver to the tight end's side in Bucs coach Dirk Koetter's offense, with Evans as the "X” single receiver on the other side. However, Koetter isn't afraid to move his receivers around, as he did with Evans in a matchup against Trufant and the Falcons last season.

From the Falcons' perspective, they'd rather keep Trufant at left cornerback and Robert Alford at right cornerback in their Cover 3 scheme rather than have Trufant match up a certain receiver for an entire game. But Trufant's quickness, speed, confidence, awareness and competitiveness gives the Falcons the option of shadowing other teams' best receivers. Plus the Falcons played more man-to-man coverage near the end of last season -- when coach Dan Quinn took over the defensive playcalling -- though Trufant wasn't in the lineup after season-ending pectoral surgery.

We'll see how things unfold when the Falcons and Buccaneers battle. But a Trufant-Jackson showdown certainly would be intriguing, even if it's just for a few plays here and there.

“It's a challenge, and that's what you embrace, being a player,” Trufant said. “I'm definitely excited for that. I know he's a great player, and it's going to be a lot of fun.”