Atlanta Falcons lose pick, fined for tampering violation

ATLANTA – The NFL is punishing the Atlanta Falcons for violating the league’s tampering policies before signing quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​and other players.

On Thursday, the NFL announced that it had informed the Atlanta Falcons that the team would be disciplined for violating the policy.

As part of this discipline, the Falcons will lose their original fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and pay a $250,000 fine.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenor was also fined $50,000.

NFL investigating Falcons signing of Kirk Cousins

The Falcons signed Cousins, the former Minnesota quarterback, on the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period. The deal was reached so quickly after teams were allowed to begin negotiating with free agents that there were questions about whether the Falcons had violated tampering policies.

Teams are allowed to speak directly with agents during the 52-hour trading window. Teams cannot talk to the player unless he does not have an agent and is representing himself.

When discussing his decision to sign with Atlanta, Cousins ​​seemed to indicate that he had been in communication with team officials a day before it was cleared.

“There are great people here. And it’s not just the football team. I mean, I look at the support staff. Meeting – call, yesterday, call from our head athletic trainer, conversation with our PR guy, I think, we have good people here and it’s exciting to be a part of it,” Cousins ​​told reporters shortly after his contract was announced.

Along with Cousins, the league also highlighted the team’s discussions with wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Charlie Woerner during the two-day negotiating period.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.