The NFL is reportedly expected to hand down punishments to the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles within the next week, which could result in both teams losing draft picks.
ESPN reported the Falcons are expected to face more penalties if the team is found guilty of tampering with quarterback Kirk Cousins before signing him during the free agency period this offseason. The Eagles have also been accused of doing the same of running back Saquon Barkley.
Tampering is speaking to or about bringing in specific athletes to a team before said players are allowed to speak to other organizations during a free agency period or are given official permission to speak to other teams.
The Falcons are being investigated on multiple levels as the league is looking into whether Cousins gave the Falcons his medical information before the legal tampering period. Cousins told reporters he spoke to the Atlanta Falcons’ lead athletic trainer before the start of the league year. Cousins is coming off a recent Achilles injury.
Barkley, who played college football at Penn State, had his former head coach tell the media the Eagles general manager Howie Roseman spoke to the running back before the start of the league year. The Eagles and Barkley denied Penn State’s coach claim and said Roseman only spoke to Barkley’s agent.
Past violations the NFL has handed out include the Miami Dolphins losing a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick for violating tampering rules with Tom Brady and Sean Payton.
This year’s NFL Draft begins on April 25 and will continue through April 27 in Detroit.
