One of the main concerns for the Minnesota Vikings this offseason was their strategy regarding the quarterback position and the implications for Kirk Cousins. Ultimately, Cousins opted to join the Atlanta Falcons.
However, suspicions arose regarding improper communication between Cousins and the Falcons before the official negotiation period began. These suspicions led to an NFL investigation into potential tampering by Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons Tampering With Kirk Cousins
Just before free agency officially kicks off, player agents can engage in discussions with teams interested in their clients. This period, often dubbed the “legal tampering period” or “early negotiating window,” allows pending free agents to assess their market value before committing to any deals.
There are allegations that Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons may have engaged in unauthorized negotiations both prior to and during this window. Adam Schefter reports that these questions are expected to be addressed this week.
A resolution in the alleged free agent tampering cases of the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles is likely to come this week, per league sources. pic.twitter.com/f6uQpqJSek
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 2, 2024
It seems the Falcons were particularly proactive in their tampering efforts, with Kyle Pitts possibly acting on behalf of the team in recruiting Cousins early on. Cousins himself mentioned meeting with medical staff and coaches before and during the designated negotiation period.
The league’s response to the Falcons’ tampering allegations remains uncertain, as there are no clear guidelines for such situations. Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, there were suggestions that the league might penalize the Falcons by requiring them to swap first-round draft picks with the Vikings, potentially moving Minnesota up three spots to No. 8.
However, no resolution was reached by draft night, and the Falcons ultimately selected Michael Penix Jr., seen as a potential replacement for Cousins. Meanwhile, the Vikings traded up to the No. 10 pick to secure their future quarterback, J.J. McCarthy.
Could Minnesota Vikings benefit from Falcons tampering?
Now that the NFL is poised to take disciplinary action, what penalties will the Atlanta Falcons face? And will the Minnesota Vikings gain any advantage from it? That much remains uncertain, but sources suggest that the Falcons’ punishment will be more severe than what the Eagles received for tampering with Saquon Barkley.
It was clear that Kirk Cousins wouldn’t remain in Minnesota after the contract offer from Atlanta, and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wisely avoided making similar commitments. However, this doesn’t negate Minnesota’s efforts to retain Cousins, which would have been more challenging if he was engaging in illicit discussions with the Falcons, and possibly other teams.
The Falcons invested heavily in Kirk Cousins with hopes of bolstering their Super Bowl prospects, but their handling of the deal might come back to haunt them – potentially benefiting the Vikings. Unraveling the situation’s outcome is another piece of the puzzle for the Vikings’ offseason, closing the chapter on a lingering storyline.
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