‘More Severe’ Tampering Punishment will Cost Falcons Draft Picks… but Will it Benefit Vikings?

The NFL Draft is almost here and that means we’re about to have a bunch of new Minnesota Vikings players, including a new franchise QB. But that’s not all. It also means that we’re closing in on a discipline decision from the NFL, regarding their investigation into the Atlanta Falcons, for tampering with then-pending free agent, Kirk Cousins, when and how they weren’t supposed to.

This is something that we’ve been paying attention to for awhile, ever since Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) brought it to light weeks ago. On Monday, though, the question is no longer about whether or not the Falcons will be punished.

Atlanta Falcons expected to receive “more severe” punishment for tampering

Instead, according to Adam Schefter (ESPN), it’s now about which of the Falcons draft picks (and how many) they will lose. But not only that, it’s also about what will happen with that/those lost pick(s). Remember, Atlanta holds the No. 8 pick in the first round.

All Schefty knows for sure is that the Falcons’ punishment is expected to be “more severe” than that of the Philadelphia Eagles, who are also expected to lose draft picks for this year’s draft, for their tampering with former Giants running back, Saquon Barkley.

The NFL’s investigation into alleged tampering charges against the Falcons for their involvement with then-free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Eagles for their involvement with then-free-agent running back Saquon Barkley is ongoing and could reach a conclusion as early as this week, per sources. Sources believe the discipline, which is likely to involve draft picks, is expected to be more severe for the Falcons.

Adam Schefter – ESPN

What does this mean for the Minnesota Vikings. Well, this is where the speculation comes in. Purple glasses wearing fans are hoping — and Florio believes this is what should happen — that the Vikings will receive a first round pick swap from the Falcons, since Kirk Cousins was still on their roster when the tampering occured.

Let’s talk about tampering pick swap precedent in the NFL