Quarterback Kirk Cousins. Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Timing of Falcons deal with Kirk Cousins raises tampering questions

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/12/24

NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested that individuals within the Atlanta Falcons may have ignored certain NFL tampering rules before the club came to a contract agreement with Kirk Cousins.

"Per the NFL, a team with interest in a pending free agent can’t start gathering medical information until the start of the two-day negotiating period," Florio explained. "Also, the new team is prohibited from gathering any medical information from the current team until the formal expiration of the contract at the start of the new league year."

This is particularly noteworthy regarding Cousins because he suffered a torn Achilles on Oct. 29 and turns 36 years old this coming August. The NFL's legal tampering portion of free agency kicked off at noon ET on Monday, and ESPN's Adam Schefter (h/t Michael Rothstein) reported roughly two hours later that the Falcons and Cousins had agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $180M with $100M guaranteed.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell attracted some attention when he said earlier this month that the NFL scouting combine "gave everybody else an opportunity — even whether they're supposed to be or not — to maybe have some conversations [with Cousins]" well before the negotiating window opened.

"I know Kirk is going to go through a full process. He's a process guy. And hopefully we continue to be a strong part in that process and we figure out a way to keep him a Minnesota Viking." - Head Coach Kevin O'Connell on @KirkCousins8

: @NFLNetwork Saturday + Sunday pic.twitter.com/kBUaxN7MPM
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 2, 2024

Florio subsequently reported last he had learned Cousins was possibly looking at homes and schools in the Atlanta area. Cousins' wife grew up in nearby Alpharetta, Georgia.

"The player is barely four months removed from a torn Achilles tendon," Florio added about the Cousins situation on Tuesday. "The contract is massive. No medical information could be requested or obtained until noon ET on Monday. Before 3:00 p.m. ET, the deal was done."

Florio mentioned that the NFL has a lengthy history of doing nothing as it pertains to these types of situations, in part because it's hardly a secret that "rampant tampering" occurs every year. Nevertheless, O’Connell's public comment during the combine coupled with how quickly Cousins came to terms with the Falcons could raise some eyebrows around the league this spring.

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