Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, announced on Monday that Cousins had signed a four-year contract with the Falcons, with the terms including $180 million, $100 million of which is guaranteed. The deal, although agreed upon, cannot be officially signed until Wednesday when the new league year commences. Cousins will receive a signing bonus of $50 million, with his salaries for 2024 and 2025 being fully guaranteed. This places Cousins among the top quarterbacks in the NFL with an annual average value of $45 million.
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The move to Atlanta comes as the team had a pressing need for a quarterback after experiencing instability at the position during the previous season. Notably, Cousins’ wife, Julie, has ties to Atlanta, further solidifying the fit. Despite leaving behind a comfortable situation in Minnesota, Cousins opted for a new challenge with the Falcons, who coincidentally are scheduled to face the Vikings on the road during the 2024 season.
In response to Cousins’ departure, Vikings’ general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah expressed gratitude for Cousins’ contributions to the team over the past six seasons but acknowledged that they couldn’t come to an agreement on a contract that aligned with both parties’ visions.
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— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) March 11, 2024
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles have made significant acquisitions, including former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and former New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff. Barkley’s deal amounts to $26 million guaranteed over three years, while Huff’s deal is valued at $51 million over the same period.
In other NFL news, the Tennessee Titans have chosen to replace Derrick Henry with Tony Pollard, agreeing to a three-year contract worth $24 million. Pollard, who had consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to fill the void left by Henry’s departure. Additionally, the Las Vegas Raiders have strengthened their interior defensive line with the acquisition of Christian Wilkins, signing him to a four-year, $110 million contract, with $84.75 million guaranteed.