Falcon Report

Falcons Ex Calvin Ridley Shocks NFL World, Signs with Titans - Tracker

Keep up to date with all the latest Atlanta Falcons with our tracker.

Jeremy Brener

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MAR 13 RIDLEY SIGNS WITH TITANS Former Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley is on the move again.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Ridley is signing with the Tennessee Titans.

Because Ridley didn't sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, they will owe the Falcons a third-round pick. The Jaguars would have awarded the Falcons their second-round pick had Ridley signed with Jacksonville.

MAR 13 KIRK BIDS FAREWELL The Atlanta Falcons will officially sign Kirk Cousins to a new contract today when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET.

With Cousins leaving the Minnesota Vikings for the Falcons, he recorded a goodbye message on social media.

Cousins is set to sign his four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons on Wednesday.

MAR 12 FALCONS SIGN MOONEY After making one of the biggest slashes of free agency by signing quarterback Kirk Cousins, they got him another weapon. 

The Falcons signed Chicago Bears receiver Darnell Mooney to a 3-year, $39 million deal with $26 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.

Mooney appeared to be on the ascend to one of the better receivers in football after he caught 81 passes for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. Since then, he's caught 71 passes for 907 yards and three touchdowns in the last two seasons. 

Being in an offense with Cousins, running back Bijan Robinson and receiver Drake London, Mooney could return to form. The Falcons are clearly banking on that by giving him a three-year deal worth $13 million a year.

MAR 11 BURNS SPURNS PANTHERS, JOINS GIANTS After tormenting the Atlanta Falcons for the past five years, outside linebacker Brian Burns is departing the Carolina Panthers.

According to NFL Network, Burns has been traded to the New York Giants for a second- and fifth-round draft pick.

The Giants are giving Burns a five-year, $150 million contract with $87.5 million guaranteed.

MAR 11 HUNT SIGNS WITH PANTHERS A rival of the Atlanta Falcons is doling out some major money.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Carolina Panthers are signing Robert Hunt away from the Miami Dolphins.

Hunt's deal is expected to last for five years and be worth $100 million. Now, Bryce Young has some added protection.

MAR 10 RUSS SIGNS WITH STEELERS The NFL free agent quarterback market is beginning to take shape.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that Russell Wilson is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This means that the Atlanta Falcons, who are in need of a quarterback, will look elsewhere ... with Minnesota Vikings veteran Kirk Cousins atop the list.

The NFL's legal tampering period begins tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET.

MAR 7 JONNU SIGNS WITH DOLPHINS Former Atlanta Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith has found a new home.

ESPN insider Adam Schefter is reporting that Smith signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday.

Smith, 29, played his college football at Florida International in Miami, so signing with the Dolphins is a homecoming of sorts.

MAR 5 HURST CUT BY PANTHERS The Carolina Panthers are saying goodbye to one of their veterans who used to play for the Atlanta Falcons.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Panthers will cut tight end Hayden Hurst when the new league year begins.

Hurst, 30, played with the Falcons from 2020-21. With Atlanta needing a backup tight end after releasing Jonnu Smith, the Falcons could look to bring Hurst back as an option, but a lot remains up in the air.

MAR 4 EVANS STAYS WITH BUCS The Atlanta Falcons will continue to see Mike Evans twice a year.

According to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are signing Evans to a two-year, $52 million contract ahead of free agency.

In 18 career games against the Falcons, Evans has caught 92 passes for 1,407 yards and 11 touchdowns.

MAR 3 CHRIS MORTENSEN DEAD AT 72 The NFL is mourning the loss of one of the most respected reporters in the sport.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen passed away on Sunday. He was 72 years old.

Mortensen worked at ESPN since 1991, but before he got his start there, he was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1983-90, covering the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons and the league as a whole.

MAR 1 CALEB WILLIAMS LIKES FALCONS The Atlanta Falcons are slated to pick at No. 8 overall, but they need a quarterback and aren't afraid to trade up in order to do so.

Caleb Williams spoke with reporters Friday at the NFL Combine and was asked about his meeting with the Falcons.

"If they trade up, I'll be there," Williams said.

The 2024 NFL Draft is set from April 25-27.

FEB 28 FALCONS MEET WITH TOP QBs The Atlanta Falcons are getting in front of some of the biggest stars ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Falcons are among the teams who met with LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye at the Combine.

Both quarterbacks are slated to be next on the quarterback list after USC's Caleb Williams goes No. 1. The Falcons are slated to pick at No. 8 in April's draft, but may need to trade up to select Daniels or Maye.

FEB 23 NFL SETS SALARY CAP Business is booming in the NFL, and that's reflected in this year's salary cap spike.

According to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the league is increasing the salary cap to $255.4 million, which is an increase of just over $30 million from the year before.

This gives the Atlanta Falcons just over $41 million in cap room, according to Spotrac.

FEB 20 RAGONE TO RAMS The Los Angeles Rams are adding to their coaching staff with a familiar face to the Atlanta Falcons.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Rams are hiring former Falcons offensive coordinator Dave Ragone as their quarterbacks coach.

Hiring Ragone basically confirms a swap between him and new Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who served as the Rams' quarterback coach in 2023.

FEB 19 MIKE DAVIS RETIRES Former Atlanta Falcons running back Mike Davis is blowing out candles and hanging up his cleats.

Davis, who turns 31 today, announced his retirement on social media after eight NFL seasons.

Davis played 16 games for the Falcons in 2021, rushing for 473 yards and three touchdowns. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens.

FEB 16 FALCONS PREDICTED TO WIN NFC SOUTH The Atlanta Falcons haven't won an NFC South title since 2016, but according to Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd, that will change in 2024.

"I think they get a veteran [quarterback] in there for a couple of years, and Atlanta wins kind of a weak division."

Falcons fans hope Cowherd is right, because that means Atlanta will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

FEB 15 FULTON KUYKENDALL PASSES AWAY Former Atlanta Falcons linebacker and franchise star Fulton Kuykendall has passed away at the age of 70, per an announcement from the team. 

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Grits Blitz member and Falcons Legend, Fulton Kuykendall," the Falcons said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Kuykendall was a sixth-round draft pick for the Falcons in 1975 and played 10 years for the franchise. 

He played in 123 games, starting 93. He finished his career with the San Francisco 49ers and retired in 1985.

FEB 15 ATLANTA SUPER BOWL COMING? It's been five years since Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, hosted a Super Bowl. But the stadium could be in line to host once again.

According to Pro Football Talk, the Falcons could host a Super Bowl in 2028 or 2029.

Super Bowl sites are already set for 2025-27 (New Orleans, Santa Clara and Los Angeles), but Atlanta could re-enter the hosting conversation before the end of the decade.

FEB 12 SUPER BOWL ODDS The Super Bowl has come and gone, marking the end of another NFL season. But that means it's time to look into the future at the next one.

ESPN BET laid out odds to win Super Bowl LIX in a year from now, and the Atlanta Falcons hold +5000 odds, ranking 18th in the NFL alongside the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts.

The Falcons hold the best odds in the NFC South after the New Orleans Saints (+7500), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+7500) and Carolina Panthers (+25000).

FEB 11 SHANAHAN'S 49ERS WIN SUPER BOWL Former Atlanta Falcons coach Kyle Shanahan still has the monkey of his back.

Shanahan led the San Francisco 49ers to a 25-22 overtime victory in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Shanahan last coached the Falcons in 2016 when he was the offensive coordinator for Atlanta. The team reached the Super Bowl but lost in overtime to the New England Patriots. Now, he remains without a ring.

FEB 10 VICK AT CHIEFS PRACTICE The Kansas City Chiefs are one day away from the Super Bowl, but before their final practice to prepare to play the San Francisco 49ers, coach Andy Reid invited a former quarterback of his.

Michael Vick, who played under Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles and for the Atlanta Falcons, visited the Chiefs at their practice on Friday, according to NBC Sports reporter Peter King.

Vick never won a Super Bowl ring of his own, but perhaps his insight and expertise can help the Chiefs beat the 49ers.

The Chiefs and 49ers are set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

FEB 5 MATT RYAN WORKING SUPER BOWL For the first time in seven years, Matt Ryan will be back at the Super Bowl.

According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC, Ryan is set to be part of the CBS broadcast for the Super Bowl on Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.

Ryan is wrapping up his first season as a broadcaster for the network.

FEB 1 COMMANDERS HIRE DAN QUINN The final head coaching hire in the NFL is a former member of the Atlanta Falcons.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Commanders are hiring former Falcons coach Dan Quinn.

Quinn served as the Falcons coach from 2015-20, leading the team to the Super Bowl in 2016. He spent the past three seasons as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.

Quinn will have the opportunity to lead his new Commanders team against the Falcons at some point in 2024.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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