The Falcons have had quite the busy offseason, signing marquee free agents and even completing a rare player-player trade.
- Released: TE Jonnu Smith
- Re-signed: LB Nate Landman (TBD)
- Signed: QB Kirk Cousins (four years, $180M)
- Signed: TE Charlie Woerner (three years, $12M)
- Signed: WR Darnell Mooney (three years, $39M)
- Re-signed: T Storm Norton (one year, $1.125M)
- Re-signed: WR KhaDarel Hodge (one year, $1.29M)
- Acquired via trade: WR Rondale Moore
- Signed: WR Ray-Ray McCloud III (two years, $6M)
Every move pales in comparison to the Kirk Cousins signing. The largest free agent deal of the NFL offseason fixes a problem in Atlanta that has existed for years.
Some might point to his age or Achilles injury as a reason to be pessimistic or that the Falcons overpaid for Cousins’ services. Well, he certainly looked good dancing at the NFL Awards, but seriously, Cousins was never some mobile quarterback. He’s a pocket-passer through and through. Moreover, $40-ish million is the going rate when a player of Cousins’ caliber reaches free agency.
For the Falcons, this was a no-brainer. Kirk Cousins was the best player among those who were available, and Raheem Morris knows the veteran is his best chance to win football games.
Morris on Cousins: "When you can go get an established guy that has gone through some of those bruises, those bumps — and [I] actually got a chance to visually see it in DC — I mean, you can't pass that up." #Falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) March 26, 2024
As far as the next biggest deal, Darnell Mooney’s contract is garnering similar criticism as Cousins. $13 million for a wideout who hasn’t eclipsed 500 yards in each of the past two seasons is a bit rich, right?
Well, circumstances matter, and Mooney didn’t have the best quarterback throwing him the ball. With Cousins in the fold, Mooney will have more opportunities and a more accurate passer. The production should improve. The Falcons also aren’t paying Mooney to be a star WR1.
Raheem Morris certainly seems confident in Terry Fontenot’s deal with Darnell Mooney.
Morris called newly acquired WR Darnell Mooney an "elite separator": "You're talking about a guy with gas, you're talking about a guy that can run. You're talking about a guy that gets the ball in his hand and makes plays. … He fired me up with the opportunity to be able to go…
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) March 26, 2024
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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