The NFL has a history of punishing teams for tampering with players and coaches. The most recent case involved the Arizona Cardinals, who swapped draft picks with the Philadelphia Eagles for tampering with defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Dolphins previously lost a first-round pick for tampering with Sean Payton and Tom Brady. In 2016, the Chiefs lost a third-round pick for communicating with Jeremy Maclin during the negotiating window. The potential punishment for the Falcons depends on the extent of their violations. Kirk Cousins reportedly spoke to the team’s head athletic trainer and director of player personnel during the negotiating window, which is prohibited. Tight end Kyle Pitts may have also recruited Cousins at the direction of the Falcons. If the Falcons are found to have violated multiple rules, they could face a more severe punishment than the typical third-round pick penalty.