Falcons forfeit draft pick, fined for tampering; Eagles cleared - ESPN

The Atlanta Falcons on Thursday were docked a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft and fined $250,000 for violating the NFL's anti-tampering policy related to free agent signings, while the league cleared the Philadelphia Eagles of tampering while signing running back Saquon Barkley this offseason.

The tampering violations for the Falcons are a result of having «improper contact» with three players prior to their official unrestricted free agency period: quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Charlie Woerner.

In addition to the team penalties, the NFL fined general manager Terry Fontenot $50,000.

After Cousins was officially signed to a four-year deal worth up to $180 million on the first day of official free agency, he indicated during his introductory news conference that he spoke with the Falcons' head trainer before 4 p.m. ET on March 13, when the new league year was set to open.

Teams are allowed to speak only with agents during the 52-hour free agent negotiating window after the start of the new league year, but they cannot speak directly with players — unless the player represents himself and doesn't have an agent. Cousins is represented by Mike McCartney, who had announced on social media two days prior to the start of the new league year that Cousins had agreed to terms with the Falcons.

«While the policy permits clubs to engage with and negotiate all aspects of an NFL player contract with the certified agent of any prospective unrestricted free agent during the two-day negotiating period, any direct contact between the player and an employee or representative of the club is prohibited,» the NFL said in a statement. «This includes discussion of travel arrangements or other logistical