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Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
Quarterback Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings passes in the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, December 11, 2022. /AP
The Atlanta Falcons solved their quarterback (QB) issue by signing free agent Kirk Cousins, who had played for the Minnesota Vikings for six seasons, and then retained him with a five-year, $180 million contract extension, according to ESPN.
Cousins' deal includes $100 million in guaranteed money. He only made eight appearances for the Vikings last season due to an Achilles tear, but when he was healthy enough to play through the whole campaign between 2015 and 2022, he surpassed 4,000 yards in seven of those eight seasons and nearly reached 5,000 yards in 2016. He was selected for the Pro Bowl four times.
The Falcons have been absent from the playoffs for six straight seasons. They have collected good talents but lacked one elite QB who could organize these talents into sharp offensive performances. Judging by the deal they gave Cousins, the team must have good faith in him to join left tackle Jake Matthews, right tackle Kaleb McGary, right guard Chris Lindstrom, tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, all first-round selections, to make a change in the new season.
Linebacker Brian Burns of the Carolina Panthers looks on after the 9-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, January 7, 2024. /AP
The New York Giants agreed with the Carolina Panthers to trade for linebacker Brian Burns and will sign him to a four-year, $150 million extension, including $87.75 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
Burns will become the second-best-paid defensive end in league history. He had been playing for the Panthers for all five seasons since he joined the NFL in 2019, tallying 46 sacks, 151 solo tackles and 95 QB hits. He was a two-time Pro Bowler in 2021 and 2022.
The Giants agreed to send their 2024 second-round NFL Draft pick, a 2025 fifth rounder and a 2024 fifth-rounder swap to the Panthers in exchange for Burns. The team has made only one postseason trip in the past seven campaigns, and it was not during the 2023 season, when they finished with only six wins after their QB Daniel Jones sustained a neck injury and a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in six appearances.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins of the Miami Dolphins looks on after the 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, December 11, 2023. /AP
The Las Vegas Raiders landed free agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who had spent all of his previous five seasons for the Miami Dolphins, and agreed on a four-year, $110 million (at most) contract with him, according to ESPN.
Wilkins achieved nine sacks and 23 QB hits, both career highs, last season for the Dolphins. It has been two seasons since he transitioned to the defensive tackle position and the team made the playoffs in both campaigns.
Wilkins' deal includes $84.75 million of guaranteed money. The Raiders missed the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023. With the appointments of a new general manager, Tom Telesco, and a new head coach, Antonio Pierce, in January, definitely going for a change in 2024.