The Atlanta Falcons moved to enhance 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 reviews the deal is price $180m, with $100m assured.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to contracts with former New York Giants operating again Saquon Barkley and New York Jets defensive finish Bryce Huff, in line with a number of reviews. Barkley is about to signal a three-year deal for $26m assured and $37.75m total, 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 numerous years, together with tight finish Kyle Pitts, operating again Bijan Robinson and huge 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 workforce 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 score in eight video games for the Vikings till the harm, 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 want 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 important and optimistic 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 an announcement. “Kirk holds a particular place in Vikings historical past, and we admire his management and contributions to the workforce and the Minneapolis-St Paul group over the previous six seasons. We want him, his spouse, Julie, and their youngsters all the perfect. Our strategy heading into free company all the time included layers of contingencies concerning the quarterback place. We’re transferring ahead with plans that permit us to proceed constructing a roster that may compete for a championship.”
The Vikings had been critical of their need to proceed with Cousins, however given their cap scenario and the latest 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 needed to complete his profession with Minnesota, additionally made clear he needed to be valued with a dedication past a token yr.
“It’s not concerning the {dollars}, however what the {dollars} signify,” 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 listing in profession passing yards (39,471), however he has mastered the enterprise facet of the sport with the steering of McCartney.
After taking part in 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 house and a urgent want on the place after an NFC Championship Recreation look. He bought the primary absolutely 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 gained 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 throughout the deal, it is going to take his profession earnings to $411m, the very 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.
