Tom Krasovic: Kirk Cousins' signing means a minimum of three extra Atlanta triumphs

The highest story of NFL free company’s kickoff Monday was this one:

The Atlanta Falcons improved themselves by just a few victories in reaching phrases with free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins though he’ll be 36 this summer time and can want time to recuperate farther from October surgical procedure on his proper Achilles.

Cousins isn’t somebody to guide Atlanta to its third Tremendous Bowl — he’s by no means reached a convention title sport with groups much like the present Falcons membership — however, having proven he’s a elegant pocket passer, he ought to get what could be bought from a younger trio of Falcons playmakers who final yr obtained subpar help from second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.

The Falcons are going from a quarterback who appeared overmatched in Ridder, 24, to 1 who shared the NFL lead in landing passes (18) via eight video games earlier than his Achilles gave out.

So pencil the Falcons for 10 wins, one higher than Tampa Bay’s NFC South-best complete final yr.

No different NFL crew ought to be anticipated to select up three wins from a free-agent signee in coming days.

As a result of there’s at all times a San Diego angle…

Cousins’ much-awaited choice supplied readability for his head coach of the previous two seasons — Carlsbad’s Kevin O’Connell, the previous San Diego State quarterback who inherited Cousins two winters in the past when the Minnesota Vikings employed him off Sean McVay’s employees days after the Los Angeles Rams received the Tremendous Bowl.

Dropping Cousins means O’Connell, 38, will now be judged on figuring out a long-term quarterback and growing him into one who leads the membership into the playoffs though doubtless not quickly, given how formidable the youthful Detroit Lions and Inexperienced Bay Packers seem.

Is Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy that Vikings’ QB?

Can the Vikings sit at No. 11 and take him there? May they need to commerce as much as get McCarthy?

The solutions will come Draft Night time on April 25.

It’s not hometown bias to imagine O’Connell, who Monday introduced again fellow La Costa Canyon Excessive Faculty alum David Quessenberry to Minnesota’s offensive line, has proven promise as a head coach. His first Vikings crew loved good luck in going 11-0 in one-score selections — an NFL file — however nonetheless mustered noticeable grit and improved offensive designs.

Cousins implied that O’Connell coaxed him into throwing extra contested passes to good impact.

O’Connell’s second crew proved a troublesome out even after shedding Cousins, an indication O’Connell can adapt and that he made a great rent in defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who was a Patriots colleague when O’Connell backed up Tom Brady.

The Vikings received two video games began by backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, a mid-season commerce addition, and one other sport began by rookie Jarren Corridor.

Whether or not O’Connell can stick long-term with the Vikings might hinge additionally on what the franchise does with star receiver Justin Jefferson. At 24, he’s an All-:Professional who will command an enormous contract inside two years. Does he need to stick round, whereas working with a QB who, a minimum of initially, can be inferior to Cousins?

Change of tempo

Free company being what it’s, the Raiders’ settlement with Christian Wilkins in all probability isn’t a cut price. The contract slots Wilkins behind solely Aaron Donald and Chris Jones for assured cash to a defensive sort out.

The overdue excellent news for Raiders followers? The defensive position seems to be now like a build-around unit, one thing the Raiders have lacked in most years over the previous 20 years.

Wilkins, who’ll flip 29 in December, ought to jam up opponents’ floor video games. Even when he doesn’t match his career-outlier manufacturing final yr as a move rusher — 9 sacks and 23 quarterback hits — he should be greater than a run-stuffer.

His linemates will embody younger productive ends in Maxx Crosby, 26, and Malcolm Koonce. 25, who had 14.5 sacks and eight sacks final yr, respectively. Finish-tackle Tyree Wilson, 23, confirmed late-season progress, eradicating some concern that he was overdrafted at No. 7 final yr

Wilkins will present management and inside push, doubtlessly taking the road to top-5 standing. Maybe new Raiders GM Tom Telesco discovered a useful lesson from his 11-year tenure that noticed many Bolts groups discipline mediocre traces.

Martyball 2.0?

The anticipated, wanted toughening up of the last-place Chargers is underway.

The crew reached phrases for a strong working again in 238-pound Gus Edwards and an efficient blocker in tight finish Will Dissley.

Physicality was a distinguished trait of Jim Harbaugh-coached groups with the 49ers, certainly one of which reached a Tremendous Bowl, and with Michigan, certainly one of which this winter received Michigan’s first unanimous nationwide title since 1948. New Chargers GM Joe Hortiz spent the previous 26 years with a Ravens franchise that emphasised physicality and dimension greater than most different NFL scouting departments.