NFL investigations are ongoing into potential tampering by the Falcons and Eagles this offseason related to their Kirk Cousins and Saquon Barkley additions. A final outcome could be coming shortly. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports a conclusion in both cases is “likely to come this week.” A similar report emerged close to the start of this year’s draft, but that was quickly met by a formal league announcement stating the investigations would continue. Any draft penalties levied against Atlanta or Philadelphia will therefore affect the 2025 draft.
Schefter’s latest update confirms that of the two teams, the Falcons are believed to have committed a “more significant” tampering violation. As a result, they are positioned to receive a harsher penalty than the Eagles if any league discipline is deemed necessary. The NFL has docked teams draft capital in the past following investigations into inappropriate free agent communications.
The Falcons worked out an agreement with Cousins (four years, $180MM) on March 12, and he has said publicly he spoke with the team’s trainer during the legal tampering period which immediately precedes free agency. Cousins also admitted to offering his recruiting services for Atlanta to sign wideout Darnell Mooney. He did end up inking a Falcons deal, but communication originating from Cousins before his own pact was official would constitute another violation.
In the Eagles’ case, league attention stems from remarks made by Penn State coach James Franklin about direct communication between Barkley and general manager Howie Roseman. Such talks are prohibited during the legal tampering window for players (such as Barkley) who do not represent themselves. The Eagles have denied any wrongdoing, but they could be subject to fines or the loss of draft capital.
The same is true for the Falcons, although owner Arthur Blank has likewise stated he does not believe any violations occurred. Both players will still play for their respective new teams in 2024 and beyond regardless of what happens regarding potential discipline. It will nevertheless be interesting to see if a final decision is made in the coming days.
I confess this whole tampering thing makes little sense to me. Is a Walmart employee prohibited from contacting people at Target about job opportunities? Is there some violation taking place if the guy at McDonalds informs staff at Burger King that he might be available? What is a suitable punishment for Adam La Rose if he is (perish the thought) caught communicating with people at Weekly World News?
In various ways, the 32 NFL teams—while separate, competing businesses—are also business partners with each other, so they have rules in place for lots of conduct, including competing for the same pool of talent. Players can’t freely move while under contract any more than draft eligible players can sign wherever they want as free agents when the college season ends. It’s very different than normal jobs.
I get what you’re saying about honoring a contract but I don’t understand why merely engaging in “discussions about future employment possibilities” once the contract expires is viewed as a big no-no.
Well you wouldn’t want, say, Denver telling Cincinnati’s players there’s more guaranteed money waiting for them if they hit free agency or demand a trade.
But the whole thing is definitely made weirder by having a legal tampering period.
In the example you provided I don’t see that exchange of information as being an issue. Those Cincinnati players have probably already been told by their agent where they can attain the best deal if they don’t think their getting a fair shake with the Bengals.
But their agents can’t have actual offers in hand.
Does Goodell actually have anyone monitoring the player agents to ensure they play things straight? Situations arise where they seem to have a clear conflict of interest but to my knowledge they never have to answer to anybody which would create a double standard.
The contract had not expired if they truly did have conversations at the combine in Cousins case.
Finally someone asking the right questions lol
Not enough that a team found guilty of tampering should just be penalized with the loss of a draft pick. The pick(s) should be awarded to the team that was damaged by the violation. Any and all fines should also be awarded to the teams damaged due to the actions of the player’s “new” team.
It would be wild if Atlanta coughed up a huge contract for Cousins, a top ten pick for Penix, and then a first round pick for Cousins all in the span of three months.
This is so stupid. You act like none of them talk either directly or thru someone else BUT yet a contract is signed the first day, hour or minutes of negotiations. While it takes months to renegotiate a contract. What a joke.
This likely is not an issue if Cousins kept his big yap shut.
Saquan grew up not far from their training camp in Lehigh and played at Penn State. To think he didn’t know Penn State fans were also Eagles fans is idiotic.