Falcons Lose NFL Draft 2025 Pick for Kirk Cousins and Free Agent Contracts Tampering

The Atlanta Falcons have been fined and docked a 2025 fifth-round draft pick as punishment for violating the NFL’s tampering policy during free agency.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team was fined $250,000 and general manager Terry Fontenot was fined $50,000 for logistical and administrative violations related to their pursuit of Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney and Charlie Woerner in free agency.

The Falcons said in a statement they are “pleased this review is complete” and will “look for ways to improve” as they review their process.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported on March 14 that the NFL was looking into potential free-agent tampering violations involving the Falcons with Kirk Cousins and the Philadelphia Eagles with Saquon Barkley.

The Eagles were cleared of any wrongdoing by the league on Thursday:

The investigation came after Cousins suggested during his introductory press conference on March 13 he met some people in the Falcons’ facilities before free agency officially began (starts at 9:42 mark).

Free agency officially began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13, but the legal tampering period opened two days earlier.

Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts said on March 13 that he started recruiting Cousins to Atlanta weeks before free agency opened.

It’s not uncommon for teams and club officials to be disciplined for violating tampering rules. The Miami Dolphins forfeited two draft picks, including a 2023 first-rounder, owner Stephen Ross was fined $1.5 million and vice chairman Bruce Beal was fined $500,000 stemming from three different anti-tampering violations between 2019 and 2022 related to conversations with Tom Brady and the agent for Sean Payton when he was still the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

NFL rules permit teams to negotiate with representatives for players during the legal tampering period, but they are not allowed to communicate directly with players.

The Falcons were not disciplined for impermissible contact with players before the negotiating window.

Cousins agreed to a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons on the first day of the tampering period. Woerner agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract on the same day. Darnell Mooney agreed three-year, $39 million contract with the club on March 12.

The Falcons made a big splash in free agency after hiring Raheem Morris as their new head coach in January. They are looking to improve after finishing 7-10 in each of the last three seasons and missing the playoffs every year since 2017.