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Falcons penalized for tampering with former 49ers TE Charlie Woerner, others during free agency

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By David Bonilla | Last updated Jun 13, 2024 12:21 PM ET

The Atlanta Falcons signed former San Francisco 49ers tight end Charlie Woerner to a three-year, $12 million deal in March, agreeing to terms during the two-day negotiation window ahead of the new league year.

Today, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that the NFL has punished the Falcons following an investigation into tampering. The team will surrender a 2025 fifth-round draft pick and pay a $250,000 fine. Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot was also fined $50,000.

The NFL is docking the #Falcons a 2025 fifth-round pick for violating the league's anti-tampering policy with Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney and Charlie Woerner. The team is also being fined $250,000 and GM Terry Fontenot is being fined $50,000.
The violations are considered… pic.twitter.com/fa7cHnHXWu
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 13, 2024

Woerner was among three players with whom the Falcons tampered ahead of the official start of free agency. The others were quarterback Kirk Cousins and wide receiver Darnell Mooney.

In summary:
— The #Eagles were not penalized for tampering.

— The #Falcons lost a 2025 5th-round pick for violating the anti-tampering policy with Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney and Charlie Woerner. ATL was fined $250K and GM Terry Fontenot was fined $50K. pic.twitter.com/LZIzWBbrkx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 13, 2024

During the two-day window leading up to the start of free agency, NFL teams are only allowed to speak to the players' agents or the player himself if he is self-represented. No communication is allowed with players represented by agents until the start of the new league year. The Falcons reportedly violated this rule.

It's noteworthy that the tampering fines were lower since they involved logistics, such as communicating about travel arrangements after the players agreed to their deals' terms. It doesn't appear that the tampering occurred during the negotiation process itself.

Key part of the NFL's findings on the #Falcons: The violations were found to have occurred *during* the two-day negotiating window, not before it opened, e.g. talking to players about flights after they'd (legally) agreed to terms. Hence, less discipline than in some other cases. https://t.co/e86iseHblU— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 13, 2024

This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.

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