Wedding venue in Blue Ridge, GA for couples in Atlanta, GA

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NFL free agency is off and running, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2024 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, which means free agent signings can be made official after that. The first round of the 2024 NFL draft begins April 25 on ESPN.

Here's a breakdown of every 2024 NFL free agent signing by the Atlanta Falcons and how each will impact the upcoming season:

Kirk Cousins, QB

The former Vikings quarterback agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Falcons, according to his agent, Mike McCartney.

What it means: After languishing with quarterback questions for the last two seasons, Atlanta added a proven option in Cousins -- the best quarterback available on the market. He gives Atlanta instant credibility and the veteran the team needed to maximize a group of offensive skill position players including receiver Drake London, running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier and tight end Kyle Pitts. One of the best play-action quarterbacks in the NFL, he'll give new coach Raheem Morris and first-time coordinator Zac Robinson an experienced mind to work with as they try to win in Atlanta for the first time in a half-decade.

What's the risk: A couple of factors. First, Cousins is coming off a torn right Achilles which was surgically repaired in November. So his readiness for the start of offseason workouts -- and training camp -- remains at least a bit in question. Cousins did post workout videos last month showing him dropping back which offers some level of progress. The other question is his age -- a four-year deal for a quarterback who will be 36-years-old when the season begins at least raises some flags. But Atlanta needed to solve its quarterback issue and Cousins was the best option.

Darnell Mooney, WR

Mooney agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal with $26 million guaranteed, Mooney's agents David Mulugheta and AJ Stevens told ESPN Insider Adam Schefter.

What it means: Atlanta needed a starting-caliber receiver to line up opposite Drake London, and in Mooney it got a talented player with a 1,000-yard season in his past (81 catches, 1,055 yards in 2021). He has versatility, too, with 757 routes run from the slot and 928 run from outside, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Figure Atlanta isn't done adding to the receiver room, but there's familiarity here, too. Former Bears GM Ryan Pace, who drafted Mooney in 2020, is a front office executive in Atlanta.

What's the risk: Expecting Mooney to be a star. This shouldn't be too much of an issue considering Atlanta has London, tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson, but Mooney hasn't had a season over 500 yards receiving since 2021. Atlanta is paying him like a No. 2 receiver, so there is some pressure for him to produce more than he did in 2022 (40 catches, 493 yards) or last season (31 catches, 414 yards). Drops shouldn't be a concern, either. He has had only one year with more than one credited dropped pass, according to ESPN Stats and Information.

Charlie Woerner, TE

Woerner has agreed to a three-year, $12 million deal, according to his agent Alex Essex.

What it means: Atlanta needed to add to the tight end room after releasing veteran Jonnu Smith last week and Charlie Woerner is the type of blocking and secondary tight end Atlanta wanted. Woerner doesn't have big pass catching stats -- 11 catches for 120 yards over four seasons -- but was a highly effective blocker with an 86.7% pass block win rate and a 77.5% run block win rate when he was in the game, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He's also a high-level special teams player.

What's the risk: Depending on the structure of the money involved, it's a lot for a player without a proven pass-catching background. However, Atlanta has Kyle Pitts on the roster so Woener won't necessarily be needed for that. The risk will be if Woerner is expected to have a high-level role in the passing game, otherwise his blocking is sound and he offers quality special teams work and considering the connections the Falcons' staff has in the NFC West, they know what they are getting in Woerner, a Georgia alum.

Nate Landman, LB

The Falcons signed Landman to a one-year, $985,000 contract.

What it means: Landman was an exclusive rights free agent, so a no-brainer to bring back for Atlanta at a cheap cost, particularly after a breakout 2023 when he played in 16 games with 14 starts and had 110 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two sacks and an interception. Most of his work came after Troy Andersen suffered a season-ending pec injury. Atlanta now has three starting quality inside linebackers with Landman, Andersen and Kaden Elliss.

What's the risk: No risk here considering the cost and lack of guarantee.

Ryan Neuzil, C

What it means: Neuzil developed over the past three seasons from an undrafted free agent to a valuable backup center who started four games last season. Neuzil can provide depth at guard and center at a good cost. Offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford, who was retained by new coach Raheem Morris in the transition from Arthur Smith, was key in his growth.

What's the risk: No risk for the Falcons or for Neuzil here. It's a low-cost deal for a player who has shown he can compete on the NFL level.

Ray-Ray McCloud III, WR

McCloud is signing a two-year deal worth up to $6 million, according to a source.

What it means: McCloud is a speedy receiver who has return capability, part of a faster room alongside Drake London, KhaDarel Hodge, Rondale Moore and Darnell Mooney. McCloud has 90 catches for 768 yards and a touchdown in his career, but he's a dynamic returner, averaging 9.6 yards a punt return and 22.6 yards a kick return in his career. He'll be competition for Avery Williams.

What's the risk: It's a reasonable deal for a special teams playmaker, so not much of one unless there's a massive guarantee as part of the $6 million. If he were to lose both returner jobs and not gain a foothold in the receiver room, that would be a concern. Otherwise a good, competitive move.

KhaDarel Hodge, WR

The terms of Hodge's deal were not immediately available.

What it means: Hodge was one of Atlanta's better special teams players and blocking wide receivers over the past two seasons, a valuable contributor for special teams coordinator Marquice Williams. With a receiver room under construction, Hodge brings value as depth after 14 catches for 232 yards last season. He's had the best two seasons of his career with the Falcons.

What's the risk: None, really, unless Atlanta paid him an unexpectedly large sum. Hodge has signed for the veteran minimum or close to it the past two seasons, so if there's a slight pay bump that's earned -- but otherwise he's valuable on special teams and is good in the run game.

Storm Norton, OT

The terms of Norton's deal were not immediately available.

What it means: Norton was signed at the end of September and ended up starting three games in Atlanta last season when right tackle Kaleb McGary was injured. Norton was a good swing tackle who was capable when he was forced into a starting role.

What's the risk: Not much risk. Atlanta returns both of its starting tackles -- McGary and Jake Matthews -- so there's not really any concern there. Even if he's thrust into a starting position, he's shown he is good enough to spot start at least. So a smart re-sign by Atlanta.

When it came to deciding on where to play in 2024, Kirk Cousins trusted his gut.

The money -- $45 million per year through 2027 -- likely didn't hurt, either, but Cousins' move south was about feel, and he sure felt good when considering where he might end his career: Atlanta.

"I think in Minnesota, it was trending over the last couple offseasons to being somewhat year-to-year," Cousins explained of his decision-making process that led him to the Falcons rather than re-signing with the Vikings. "As we talked with Atlanta, it felt like this was a place where, if I play at the level I expect to play, that I can retire a Falcon. That was something that really excited me and that's certainly the goal. You've got to earn the right to do that, but that was exciting to feel like I could get that opportunity here."

Cousins surprised some with his choice to leave Minneapolis -- where he'd played the last six years of his NFL career and made a home for his family -- for the potentially greener pastures of Atlanta. Financially, he's already done incredibly well for himself, leveraging his value at nearly every opportunity in his career, which began as an afterthought of a fourth-round pick made by Washington in the same class that saw the franchise select Robert Griffin III with the second-overall pick. He wasn't out to take the largest bid, and because he's still playing quality football -- good enough to land him in the top 10 of the final QB Index -- he was able to have his cake and eat it, too, signing a lucrative deal in a place he wanted to reside.

Familiarity helps. Cousins has history with new Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, who oversaw the defensive backs in Washington in Cousins' early years, and that made such a move easier to consider. But opportunity matters, too, and for Cousins, the thought of leaving Minnesota for a team stocked with three key playmakers -- receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson -- was quite enticing, explaining Wednesday he's eager to start studying his teammates alongside them in order to establish a rapport.

"Raheem, I was around for two years in Washington and was just so impressed with him as our DB coach," Cousins said of Morris. "He would walk down the hall to the quarterback meeting in OTAs. I was a rookie and didn't know what was normal, but that wasn't normal to me before that and wasn't normal after. But for a DB coach to walk down the hall -- now looking back when that room was Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, Mike McDaniel, Sean McVay, he had good reason to be walking down the hall. But I would put him right in that category.

"As I look back, he was one of the original people there in the room with those other names. The fact that I was in that room too, the chance to get back with someone from that room was a real thrill for me."

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Cousins will, of course, be required to clear a few checkpoints regarding his health. An Achilles injury ended his 2023 season after just eight games, and while he's had ample time to gain ground in his recovery -- progress substantiated by Cousins passing every area of his physical, save for the Achilles, prior to officially signing with the team Wednesday -- he admitted he won't truly know if he's returned to form until he's required to use his legs.

"I can take drops. I can play the quarterback position, if you will, throwing the football," Cousins said of his current status. "I think the minute I would have to leave the pocket is where you would say, yeah, he's still recovering from an Achilles. But taking drops, making throws, that's really no problem at this point."

Cousins' decision to leave wasn't entirely shocking because it felt as if his time in Minnesota was nearing an end, regardless of his next destination. The quarterback who once became the first to receive a fully guaranteed contract had seemingly played out most, if not all of the string with the Vikings, and change appeared to be around the corner, if not on Cousins' doorstep. Vikings general manager Kwesi Odofo-Mensah changed his tone from January to February, moving from initially stating it was his intention to retain Cousins to speaking of the negotiations as a process of finding middle ground.

In the end, Atlanta swooped in to give Cousins a better offer than Minnesota could provide, and the 35-year-old was happy to hop on board.

Kirk Cousins joins 'NFL Total Access' after signing $180M deal with Falcons

The Falcons are paying Cousins $45 million a year with one goal in mind: Solidify the quarterback position for the first time since Matt Ryan's final couple of seasons with the team. That's the baseline expectation for a quarterback making that type of money, and if he can do that, Atlanta should realistically hope to be a playoff contender.

As for if and when the Falcons reach that point, Cousins knows his history -- headlined by a lack of postseason success -- precedes him. But he's also unwilling to allow it to define him in his new home, where he hopes to power playoff triumphs most have believed aren't possible with him leading an offense.

"Quarterbacks will always be evaluated based on, not just September to December, but January and February," Cousins said. "That's where you want to get to because of September to December, and then once you get there you want to have meaningful wins and play meaningful games in January and February. That's where I want to go and I believe we can go."

The Cousins era has officially begun in Atlanta, where Falcons fans are just glad they don't have to spend the next few months agonizing over their team's quarterback situation. Should it live up to his expectations, those same fans might look back on Wednesday as a significant turning point in the franchise's history.

It has been a wild afternoon for the Atlanta Falcons, who were reportedly working on a deal to trade quarterback Desmond Ridder that apparently came together very quickly. They’ve shipped Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals, getting back wide receiver Rondale Moore in the exchange.

As low-cost swaps go, this will likely prove to be a fruitful one for both teams. Ridder’s 2023 was catastrophic and a new team probably will give him a better chance at actually appearing in games at some point in the future, even if Kyler Murray is obviously locked in as Arizona’s starter. The Falcons, meanwhile, clear the way for Taylor Heinicke, a rookie, or both to back up Kirk Cousins while recouping something of value for a quarterback the new regime clearly was not interested in trying to develop further.

You might have expected a late round draft pick, but that’s not the something the Falcons prized. That something is a someone: Moore, a player the Falcons are likely importing as their starting slot receiver for 2024. He has a year left on his rookie deal and is coming off a season where he put up 352 yards and a touchdown on 40 grabs. He has never had more than a single touchdown or 435 yards in a single season in Arizona, and while some of that can be laid at the feet of inconsistent quarterbacking and shaky offense when Kyler Murray was out with injuries, Moore has not proven to be a difference maker at the NFL level to this point, though he has of course had flashes where his ruggedness and speed look tantalizing.

Perhaps he will in Atlanta, where his road to snaps is currently unblocked and will likely remain that way. Moore is fast and strong for a 5’7”, 180-pound listed receiver, and will be just 24 years old in 2024. He hasn’t had much of a special teams role in his career to this point, which may change in Atlanta, but he did field kicks and punts in his rookie season and was a decent option there. In addition, Moore logged some snaps out of the backfield in Arizona last year, putting up 178 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.

The Falcons are getting a player who has enough talent and speed to be a really interesting slot option in what’s looking like a compelling Falcons offense. If he’s the third or fourth receiver in the team’s pecking order, a fun occasional option and emergency pinch hitter at running back, and an emergency option as a returner, then he’ll be mighty useful in Atlanta. I don’t think any of those things are unfair to expect, and in a more talented offense, perhaps Moore will take off.

The Falcons aren’t quite done on offense yet, but they’ve been working through their moves on that side of the ball first and now have added their new starting quarterback, a pair of fast receivers, a talented blocking tight end, and a couple of depth pieces. We’ll hope Moore proves to be a very useful piece of that puzzle, and we wish Ridder well in Arizona, where hopefully a chance of scenery gives him a chance to resurrect his career that he clearly was not going to receiver in Atlanta.

The Falcons were not finished shuffling around their quarterback room with just the signing of Kirk Cousins. According to WSB’s Zach Klein, the team was on the verge of trading quarterback Desmond Ridder, who started 13 games and appeared in 15 in 2023, earlier this afternoon and they made a deal quickly after that with the Arizona Cardinals.

After two seasons, Ridder’s time in Atlanta has officially come to an end. They will receive wide receiver Rondale Moore in return.

NFL league sources tell me Atlanta Falcons on verge of trading quarterback Desmond Ridder -Wish Ridder the best.. handled everything with class and hope he finds success with this fresh start

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) March 14, 2024

Cardinals are sending WR Rondale Moore to Atlanta for Desmond Ridder, per source. https://t.co/k4kqJ9eY0f

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2024

Ridder was taken by the Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, after a successful college career with the Cincinnati Bearcats, and was likely pegged as a potential future franchise quarterback by head coach Arthur Smith and his staff.

After starting the last four games of the season in 2022, Ridder was outright given the starting job in 2023 with no Training Camp competition and just one drive total in the preseason. He then failed to meet expectations in his sophomore campaign, being benched twice but finishing out the season due to an injury to Taylor Heinicke.

In the end, turnovers became Ridder’s undoing with the Falcons. He threw 12 interceptions and lost seven fumbles, to rank fifth among all QBs with 19 turnovers in 2023, but with far fewer snaps or pass attempts than every player who had more.

It seems that the Falcons have decided to fully close the book on Desmond Ridder’s time with the franchise. For the moment, Heinicke is set to be the backup to Kirk Cousins, but we will see if the Falcons add another option in this year’s draft.

Rondale Moore, meanwhile, comes off of a season where he recorded 352 receiving yards on 40 catches in 2023.

A former second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Moore seemingly did not live up to expectations in Arizona, recording 1,201 receiving yards and four total touchdowns during his three years as a Cardinal. He will help enhance Atlanta’s wide receiver room, and a change of scenery could be exactly what is needed to help get his career back on track.

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The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to sign free agent wide receiver Darnell Mooney to a three-year, $39 million deal, including $26 million fully guaranteed, agents David Mulugheta and AJ Stevens told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Mooney gives the Falcons another offensive playmaker for new quarterback Kirk Cousins, who also has tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson as skill position players with which to work.

Mooney, 26, was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round in 2020. After a breakout season in 2021 in which he totaled 81 catches for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns, with many of his targets coming from then-rookie quarterback Justin Fields, injuries and a regression in play stunted Mooney's last two seasons in Chicago.

Mooney struggled to fill the Bears' No. 2 receiver role behind DJ Moore. The 5-foot-11 receiver had a career-low 31 catches for 414 yards and a touchdown in 2023, one season after his 2022 campaign was cut short by an ankle injury.

In 2022, Mooney led the Bears with 493 receiving yards despite being limited to 12 games.

He has 213 catches for 2,593 yards and 11 touchdowns in 60 career games.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin contributed to this report.