VAN SIGNS WITH STEELERS ON MARCH 15A former receiver with the Atlanta Falcons is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Van Jefferson is joining the Steelers on a one-year contract.
In the midst of the 2023 season, the Los Angeles Rams traded Jefferson to the Falcons, although he didn’t see a lot of targets in Atlanta. Russell Wilson now has him as a target when he joins the Steelers.
RIDLEY SIGNS WITH TITANS ON MARCH 13Calvin Ridley, a former wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, is back in action.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has learned that Ridley will be joining the Tennessee Titans.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will owe the Falcons a third-round pick since Ridley chose not to sign with them. Had Ridley committed to Jacksonville, the Jaguars would have given the Falcons their second-round selection.
MAR 13, KIRK BIDS GOODBYEAt 4 p.m. ET today, when the new league year officially begins, Kirk Cousins will be officially signed by the Atlanta Falcons to a new contract.
Following his trade from the Minnesota Vikings to the Falcons, Cousins posted a farewell video on social media.
I’m grateful to Minnesota.
adore,
Julie, Kirk, Turner, and Cooper pic.twitter.com/DuRrIvDYSl
Repost from Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8)13 March 2024
On Wednesday, Cousins will officially sign a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons.
MAR 12: MOONEY SIGNED BY FALCONSOnce they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins, one of the biggest cuts of free agency, they added another weapon to their arsenal.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Falcons have signed Chicago Bears receiver Darnell Mooney to a three-year, $39 million contract with a $26 million guarantee.
According to sources, the #Falcons have added WR Darnell Mooney from the #Bears, providing Kirk Cousins with a valuable new playmaker.
Mooney signs a three-year, $39 million contract with AJ Stevens of @AthletesFirst and David Mulugheta of @AthletesFirst, with $26 million fully guaranteed. WR of the year thus far.tweet.com/EgWKYhY0b7
— March 12, 2024, Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
After catching 81 catches for 1,055 yards and four scores, Mooney looked to be developing into one of the NFL’s finest receivers. In the following two seasons, he has caught 71 receptions for 907 yards and three touchdowns.
With Cousins, receiver Drake London, and running back Bijan Robinson in the offense, Mooney could be able to get back on track. The Falcons have given him a three-year contract worth $13 million annually, obviously betting on it.
MAR 11. JOINS GIANTS AND BURNS SPURNS PANTHERSOutside linebacker Brian Burns is leaving the Carolina Panthers after five years of torturing the Atlanta Falcons.
Burns was traded to the New York Giants in exchange for a second- and fifth-round draft selection, per NFL Network.
Burns has agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract with the Giants, of which $87.5 million is guaranteed.
MAR 11: PANTHERS AND HUNT SIGNSThe Atlanta Falcons’ main adversary is giving away a significant sum of money.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has learned that Robert Hunt is being signed by the Carolina Panthers instead of the Miami Dolphins.
Hunt’s $100 million contract is anticipated to be signed for a period of five years. Bryce Young is now better protected.
RUSS SIGNS WITH STEELERS ON MAR 10.The quarterback market for NFL free agents is starting to take form.
Russell Wilson is reportedly signing a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
According to league insiders, Russell Wilson, a former Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback, intends to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wilson will agree to a one-year contract that benefits the team, with the Broncos footing the bill for $38 million of Wilson’s salary. Wilson will wear the black and…snapchat.com/eqQC8w0tIK
— March 11, 2024, Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
This implies that Kirk Cousins, a veteran quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, will be the first choice for the Atlanta Falcons, who are in dire need of a quarterback.
Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET, the NFL’s legal tampering period kicks off.
JONNU SIGNS WITH DOLPHINS ON MAR 7Jonnu Smith, a former tight end for the Atlanta Falcons, has moved.
Smith inked a two-year, $10 million contract with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
Smith, 29, attended Florida International in Miami for his college football career, so joining the Dolphins seems like a homecoming.
MAR 5: PANTHERS CUT HURSTOne of the veteran players who was a member of the Atlanta Falcons is leaving the Carolina Panthers.
When the new league year starts, the Panthers will remove tight end Hayden Hurst, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Hurst, 30, spent 2020–21 as a player for the Falcons. Hurst’s return is still up in the air, but the Falcons may try to consider it as a backup tight end option since Atlanta needs one after cutting Jonnu Smith.
EVANS MAR 4 STAYS WITH BUCSMike Evans will still see the Atlanta Falcons twice a year.
Evans is being signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a two-year, $52 million contract ahead of free agency, according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo.
Evan Evans has caught 92 catches for 1,407 yards and 11 touchdowns in 18 career games versus the Falcons.
MAR 3, CHRIS MORTENSEN WAS 72 YEARS OLDOne of the most reputable reporters in the NFL has passed away, and the league is in sorrow.
On Sunday, Chris Mortensen of ESPN went away. His age was seventy-two.
Prior to beginning his career at ESPN in 1991, Mortensen covered the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, and the league as a whole as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1983 to 1990.
CALEB WILLIAMS ENJOYS FALCONS, MAR 1.The Atlanta Falcons are expected to select eighth overall, but they are willing to move up to acquire a quarterback because they are in dire need of one.
During his Friday interview at the NFL Combine, Caleb Williams was questioned about his meeting with the Falcons.
Williams declared, “I’ll be there if they trade up.”
The NFL Draft in 2024 is scheduled for April 25–27.
28. FALCONS MEET WITH WORLD-CLASS QBsAhead of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons are getting to see some of the greatest names.
The Falcons were among the clubs that visited with North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels during the Combine, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
Caleb Williams of USC is expected to go first on the quarterback draft board, followed by both quarterbacks. In the April draft, the Falcons are expected to select at No. 8, but they might have to move up to choose Daniels or Maye.
NFL SETS SALARY CAP for February 23The NFL is experiencing a business boom, which is evident in the increase in the wage cap this year.
The league is raising the salary cap to $255.4 million, up slightly over $30 million from the previous year, according to NFL Network source Tom Pelissero.
As a result, the Atlanta Falcons have little more than $41 million in cap space, per Spotrac.
FEB 20: RAMS TO RAGONEA well-known figure from the Atlanta Falcons is joining the coaching staff of the Los Angeles Rams.
Dave Ragone, the former offensive coordinator for the Falcons, is being hired by the Rams to coach quarterbacks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The fact that Ragone was hired essentially seals the deal between him and Zac Robinson, the new offensive coordinator for the Falcons and the former quarterback coach of the Rams in 2023.
Mike Davis Retires on February 19Mike Davis, a former running back for the Atlanta Falcons, is hanging up his cleats and blowing out candles.
After eight NFL seasons, Davis, who turns 31 today, declared his retirement on social media.
In 16 games for the Falcons in 2021, Davis ran for 3 touchdowns and 473 yards on the ground. In addition, he was a player for the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, and Carolina Panthers.
FEB 16: NFC South Champion Falcons are predicted to winSince 2016, the Atlanta Falcons have not won the NFC South, but that will change in 2024, predicts Colin Cowherd, a Fox Sports pundit.
“I think they get a veteran [quarterback] in there for a couple of years, and Atlanta wins kind of a weak division.”
Falcons supporters are hoping Cowherd is correct, as it would mean Atlanta will make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
FEB 15 FULTON KUYKENDALL PASSES AWAY Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker and franchise star Fulton Kuykendall has passed away at the age of 70, per an announcement from the team.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Grits Blitz member and Falcons Legend, Fulton Kuykendall,” the Falcons said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Kuykendall was a sixth-round draft pick for the Falcons in 1975 and played 10 years for the franchise.
He played in 123 games, starting 93. He finished his career with the San Francisco 49ers and retired in 1985.
FEB 15 ATLANTA SUPER BOWL COMING? It’s been five years since Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, hosted a Super Bowl. But the stadium could be in line to host once again.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Falcons could host a Super Bowl in 2028 or 2029.
Super Bowl sites are already set for 2025-27 (New Orleans, Santa Clara and Los Angeles), but Atlanta could re-enter the hosting conversation before the end of the decade.
FEB 12 SUPER BOWL ODDS The Super Bowl has come and gone, marking the end of another NFL season. But that means it’s time to look into the future at the next one.
ESPN BET laid out odds to win Super Bowl LIX in a year from now, and the Atlanta Falcons hold +5000 odds, ranking 18th in the NFL alongside the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts.
The Falcons hold the best odds in the NFC South after the New Orleans Saints (+7500), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7500) and Carolina Panthers (+25000).
FEB 11 SHANAHAN’S 49ERS WIN SUPER BOWL Former Atlanta Falcons coach Kyle Shanahan still has the monkey of his back.
Shanahan led the San Francisco 49ers to a 25-22 overtime victory in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Shanahan last coached the Falcons in 2016 when he was the offensive coordinator for Atlanta. The team reached the Super Bowl but lost in overtime to the New England Patriots. Now, he remains without a ring.
FEB 10 VICK AT CHIEFS PRACTICE The Kansas City Chiefs are one day away from the Super Bowl, but before their final practice to prepare to play the San Francisco 49ers, coach Andy Reid invited a former quarterback of his.
Michael Vick, who played under Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles and for the Atlanta Falcons, visited the Chiefs at their practice on Friday, according to NBC Sports reporter Peter King.
Vick never won a Super Bowl ring of his own, but perhaps his insight and expertise can help the Chiefs beat the 49ers.
The Chiefs and 49ers are set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
FEB 5 MATT RYAN WORKING SUPER BOWL For the first time in seven years, Matt Ryan will be back at the Super Bowl.
According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC, Ryan is set to be part of the CBS broadcast for the Super Bowl on Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.
Ryan is wrapping up his first season as a broadcaster for the network.
FEB 1 COMMANDERS HIRE DAN QUINN The final head coaching hire in the NFL is a former member of the Atlanta Falcons.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Commanders are hiring former Falcons coach Dan Quinn.
Quinn served as the Falcons coach from 2015-20, leading the team to the Super Bowl in 2016. He spent the past three seasons as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.
Quinn will have the opportunity to lead his new Commanders team against the Falcons at some point in 2024.
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