The Atlanta Falcons moved to enrich their array of offensive weapons with a confirmed beginning quarterback by agreeing a four-year take care of Kirk Cousins on Monday. Cousins’s agent, Mike McCartney, confirmed the transfer on social media on Monday. ESPN stories the deal is price $180m, with $100m assured.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to contracts with former New York Giants working again Saquon Barkley and New York Jets defensive finish Bryce Huff, in line with a number of stories. Barkley is ready to signal a three-year deal for $26m assured and $37.75m general, whereas Huff is getting a three-year deal for $51m, in line with sources. Free brokers can’t formally signal with new groups till Wednesday. Barkley ran for 962 yards and 6 touchdowns final season in 14 seasons and had 41 catches, together with 4 TDs. Huff has 17.5 profession sacks, 65 complete tackles and one pressured fumble in 4 seasons with the Jets.
The Falcons have stockpiled expertise on offense for plenty of years, together with tight finish Kyle Pitts, working again Bijan Robinson and large receiver Drake London, who’re all high 10 draft picks. However they’ve but to discover a competent alternative for Matt Ryan, who left the staff on the finish of the 2021 season. Whereas Cousins is within the upper-half of NFL quarterbacks he’s 35 and coming off a torn achilles that ended his season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. Cousins had a 103.8 passer ranking in eight video games for the Vikings till the damage, the third-best within the league, whereas the Falcons struggled with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke at quarterback. Falcons proprietor Arthur Clean known as his quarterback room “poor” final season, and few followers would have disagreed.
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The epitome of a late bloomer, Cousins loved largely the best performances of his profession because the Vikings employed coach Kevin O’Connell in 2022.
The Vikings had been going to wish a succession plan no matter how this negotiation performed out, although, contemplating Cousins’ age and their dedication to a “aggressive rebuild,” as basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has termed it a number of instances.
“After vital and constructive dialogue with Kirk and his representatives, we had been unable to succeed in settlement on a contract that matches the brief and long-term visions for each Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings,” Adofo-Mensah mentioned in a press release. “Kirk holds a particular place in Vikings historical past, and we respect his management and contributions to the staff and the Minneapolis-St Paul group over the previous six seasons. We want him, his spouse, Julie, and their kids all the very best. Our strategy heading into free company all the time included layers of contingencies relating to the quarterback place. We’re shifting ahead with plans that enable us to proceed constructing a roster that may compete for a championship.”
The Vikings had been severe of their want to proceed with Cousins, however given their cap scenario and the current enchancment and outlook round them by their NFC North foes they needed to have a restrict about how a lot – and for a way lengthy – they may assure.
Cousins, for as a lot as he wished to complete his profession with Minnesota, additionally made clear he wished to be valued with a dedication past a token yr.
“It’s not in regards to the {dollars}, however what the {dollars} characterize,” was how Cousins put it in an interview with reporters in January.
Cousins has not solely been the consummate overachiever on the sector, from afterthought faculty recruit to fourth-round draft decide to at the moment twenty fourth place on the NFL’s all-time record in profession passing yards (39,471), however he has mastered the enterprise aspect of the sport with the steerage of McCartney.
After enjoying on consecutive franchise tags for Washington in 2016 and 2017, Cousins cashed in because the uncommon beginning quarterback to hit free company in 2018 when the Vikings had wage cap area and a urgent want on the place after an NFC Championship Sport look. He acquired the primary totally assured, multi-year contract in league historical past for a quarterback when he signed for $84m. Over the previous eight seasons, Cousins has earned greater than $228m. He has received just one playoff sport, after the 2019 season. With the $100m assured from the Falcons, his profession earnings will likely be slightly below $330m, fourth all-time amongst NFL gamers and simply $3m behind Tom Brady.
If Cousins sticks with the Vikings all through the deal, it’s going to take his profession earnings to $411m, the best determine in league historical past.
The Vikings restructured Cousins’ deal a yr in the past with out giving him any new cash, leading to a $28.5m wage cap hit in 2024 for the remaining signing bonus proration in the event that they didn’t attain an extension earlier than the brand new league yr formally begins on Wednesday afternoon.
Elsewhere within the NFL on Monday, Russell Wilson agreed to a one-year take care of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The nine-time Professional Bowl quarterback agreed to a contract definitely worth the veteran minimal.
