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Are Falcons actively searching for a Kirk Cousins buyer?
The Atlanta Falcons may or may not want an acquiring club to pay "$20M of the $45M worth of guarantees left on" the contract for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins now that Atlanta has Michael Penix Jr. serving as its full-time starter.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 draft, it seems no franchise is in a hurry to do the Falcons any favors.
"We have to be patient there, and we always, we’re open with not just talking about Kirk, but with really anybody on our roster," Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said during a Tuesday appearance on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio, as shared by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "You know, we have a lot of those calls with — I’ve probably talked to already six or seven GMs since the draft ended, and they’re talking about their roster. We’re talking about our roster because after you get through the draft, that shifts some things in terms of needs and surplus and all that."
It's difficult to imagine any of those "six or seven GMs" offering Fontenot any hope that a trade for Cousins is imminent. In the days leading up to the draft, multiple stories hinted that the Pittsburgh Steelers or Cleveland Browns could reach out to the Falcons regarding the 36-year-old.
The Steelers now reportedly "firmly believe that" they will soon introduce Aaron Rodgers as their next starter. Meanwhile, the Browns have veteran Joe Flacco, 2022 first-round choice Kenny Pickett, rookie Dillon Gabriel and fellow first-year pro Shedeur Sanders in a crowded quarterback room.
Talk about the Minnesota Vikings possibly embracing a reunion with Cousins is only speculation as long as the Vikings continue preparing 2024 first-round selection J.J. McCarthy to serve as their new QB1 after he spent his rookie season recovering from a full meniscus repair. Even if the New Orleans Saints wanted to play Cousins over rookie Tyler Shough (assuming Derek Carr misses time due to his shoulder injury), history suggests two division rivals won't come to terms on a deal regarding a starting quarterback.
"...We’re always patient with those types of things because if something comes to us with Kirk or any other player that makes sense and it’s going to help this team, then we’re going to be aggressive and we’re going to do it," Fontenot added during his comments. "And if it’s not something that’s going to ultimately help this team, we always have to ask that question: Is it the best for the Atlanta Falcons or this organization? And if it is, we’re going to be willing to do it. But all that communication is always ongoing."
Fontenot waiting for a different team to lose a starter to an injury could make for an awkward situation within the Falcons, as Cousins' relationship with his current employer hasn't been the same since Atlanta made Penix a first-round draft pick last spring. At this point, Fontenot may need Rodgers to reject the Steelers for the Falcons to get anything in return for Cousins before the 2025 season gets underway.
More must-reads:
- Could Vikings eventually give Kirk Cousins an escape from Falcons?
- 2025 NFL Draft winners and losers: Raiders score big, Shedeur Sanders' disaster
- The 'Most passing yards in an NFL game' quiz
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Vikings offense has sizable hole following first-round WR's NFL ruling
The Minnesota Vikings will be without one of their top wide receivers for the start of the regular season. On Tuesday, wideout Jordan Addison was suspended without pay for the season's first three games after pleading no contest earlier this offseason to a "wet reckless" charge. He was initially charged with DUI on July 12, 2024 and pleaded not guilty to those counts on Dec. 3, 2024. In July 2023, he was also cited for speeding a reckless driving when going 140 mph in a 55 mph zone. During his first two seasons, Addison, a 2023 first-round pick (No. 23 overall), has 133 receptions, 1,786 receiving yards (13.4 yards per reception) and 19 touchdowns. During that span, only Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have more receiving touchdowns. His absence is a blow to the Vikings offense, entering its first season with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy as the starting quarterback. While McCarthy will still have arguably the NFL's best wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, to throw to during the season's first three weeks, Addison's suspension severely compromises the team's depth. Jalen Nailor, a 2022 sixth-rounder, should be in line for an increase in playing time. Last season, he played a career-high 51 percent of his available offensive snaps, via Pro Football Reference. Offseason free-agent signings Rondale Moore and Tim Jones, 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton and undrafted free agents Lucky Jackson and Silas Bolden could also be forced into more prominent roles. Last season, Moore missed the entire year after suffering a training-camp knee injury with the Atlanta Falcons, while Jones had just three receptions on five targets for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Felton and Bolden are rookies and might not be ready for heavy workloads, while Jackson is possibly having the best training camp of the group, recently making impressive plays on back-to-back days. Regardless of who takes Addison's snaps, the Vikings offense won't be at full strength to begin the season. Opponents will be able to focus their attention on Jefferson with double-teams and force Minnesota's unproven secondary and tertiary options to beat them. It's not an ideal set of circumstances for McCarthy as he preps for his regular-season debut, but the Vikings have no other choice than to make it work.
Aaron Judge Assigns Blame As Yankees Continue to Sprial
Aaron Judge didn’t ease into his return. After missing over two weeks with a strain in his right elbow, the Yankees’ captain was activated Tuesday and inserted as the designated hitter. But his presence wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding or the finger-pointing. As the Yankees dropped their fifth straight game, falling 2-0 to the Rangers, the calls for a change in leadership were growing louder. Yankees fans were howling for Aaron Boone’s job and wanted Brian Cashman to be sent packing with him. But, Judge made it clear who bears the blame. “About us in this room, we’ve got to step up, look ourselves in the mirror and do our job,” he said. That was the message from a captain who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his first game back. Judge didn’t shift the focus to his own timing at the plate or the limitations of his injury. He kept the spotlight squarely on the team’s performance and their accountability. New York has now lost 19 of its last 27 games and watched a once-secure playoff position slip into a Wild Card race that’s tightening by the day. The loss dropped them behind Boston and just a half-game ahead of Texas for the final AL Wild Card spot. Mistakes continue to mount. On Tuesday, it was another bullpen collapse, another critical misplay in the field, and another night where the offense failed to deliver in key spots. For Judge, the diagnosis was simple. Do your job. With the standings getting tighter, Judge’s words carry weight. The Yankees have time to turn this around, but not if they keep looking elsewhere for answers or excuses. The answers, as Judge reminded everyone Tuesday night, have to come from within.
Green Bay Packers: 2 Notable Former Wide Receivers Labeled as Surprise Cut Candidates
As the Green Bay Packers deal with their own crowded wide receiver room, multiple former Packers pass-catchers are also embroiled in position battles across the league. Notably, two veterans that turned in many successful seasons in Green Bay now find themselves battling to make rosters and have been labeled as big names that could become surprise cuts when rosters are trimmed down. New York Jets May Soon Be Done With Former Green Bay Packers Receiver Allen Lazard Former Packers receiver Allen Lazard was always a favorite of Aaron Rodgers during their time together in Green Bay. When Rodgers left the franchise, Lazard ended up following the quarterback to the New York Jets. While the Rodgers era for Gang Green has gone up in flames, Lazard remains on the roster – for now. Lazard entered camp as the presumed second receiver behind Garrett Wilson, but so far, fellow veteran Josh Reynolds has seemingly beaten out Lazard for the second spot. A former Detroit Lion, Reynolds has reportedly been building a good rapport with new signal-caller Justin Fields, leaving Lazard potentially relegated to slot duties. Although the Jets have receiver depth problems, some experts don’t believe that Lazard will survive cuts. The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt has stated that he does not expect Lazard to be on the 53-man roster. Some names behind Lazard on the current depth chart include veteran Tyler Johnson and rookie Arian Smith, both of whom have had flashes of ability in camp so far. Several of the younger players also offer one thing that Lazard notably doesn’t – the ability to play on special teams. If Lazard is cut by the team, it would mean the team would have moved on from another former Packer after dumping both Rodgers and Davante Adams this summer. Can Former Green Bay Packers Receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling Stick in Seattle? Marquez Valdes-Scantling was a member of the Green Bay Packers from 2018 to 2021, playing out his rookie contract with the team while being a big part of the offense. He had over 2,000 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns for the green and gold before leaving for Kansas City in free agency. In 2025, Valdes-Scantling was with the New Orleans Saints until he signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks worth around $4 million. Despite the 29-year-old being a proven veteran and solid deep threat, Valdes-Scantling currently finds himself near the edge of the Seahawks roster. Rookie receiver Tory Horton has already surpassed Valdes-Scantling on the depth chart and has been the fourth receiver in the team’s first-team rotation so far. Valdes-Scantling has been relegated to the second unit in training camp practices as of early August. Respected NFL writer Brady Henderson has said that Valdes-Scantling has “barely made any” plays throughout camp so far, whereas Horton has continued to catch eyes and has been nicknamed “Jerry Rice Jr.” by teammate Tariq Woolen. Like Lazard, Valdes-Scantling does not offer much on special teams either, and although the Seahawks would love to have a deep threat to compliment Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, if Valdes-Scantling does not show up in camp, the team could move on from the former Green Bay Packer with little financial consequence.
Ex-Yankees Bust Clint Frazier Sends Clear Anthony Volpe Message
Hindsight is 20/20, and the New York Yankees may have a major regret regarding a player on track for his second 20-20 season in three years. Although shortstop Anthony Volpe has 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, and a career-high .710 OPS, he also has a league-high 16 errors. The 24-year-old Volpe is striking out at a 23.8% clip and batting just .189 with runners in scoring position. Volpe went hitless with a walk in Monday’s 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers, leading ex-Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier to suggest that Volpe is in a “tough spot.” "Everybody is so hyper focused on him at the moment and you gotta believe he’s fully aware of it because it’s impossible to not be,” Frazier wrote on X/Twitter. “That standing ovation might need to come here soon,” Frazier added. “It could help.” Frazier is referring to the idea that Yankees fans should give Volpe a standing ovation the way that Philadelphia Phillies fans did for Trea Turner two summers ago. Los Angeles Dodgers fans did something similar for struggling All-Star shortstop Mookie Betts on Monday night, though Betts went 0-for-4 in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Longtime Yankees pitcher David Cone made a similar proposal last week. The Yankees return home for a three-game set against the Houston Astros beginning Friday night. The 60-53 Yankees trail the first-place Toronto Blue Jays by 5 1/2 games at publication. Although the Yankees and Seattle Mariners are tied for the AL’s second Wild Card spot, they only have a 1 1/2 game lead over the Rangers.
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