Bear Digest

Another Falcons-Kirk Cousins Rumor

Free Agent Watch: Is it possible another report linking Kirk Cousins to the Falcons might lead to the Bears eventually trading Justin Fields to the Vikings?
Gene Chamberlain|
Another Falcons-Kirk Cousins Rumor
Another Falcons-Kirk Cousins Rumor

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Chicago Bears

The first domino of the free agency quarterback market could fall and not in a way to favor the Bears in any trade of Justin Fields.

Kirk Cousins could be headed to Atlanta, if a report by Mike Florio and Pro Football Talk proves accurate. Florio on Monday night reported getting "credible indications" Cousins is consdering moving his family to Atlanta.

Alpharetta, Ga. is where Cousins' wife, Julie, is from and the Falcons have been expected to make some type of play for Cousins in free agency.

It's still a week before free agency and that's sure to stir up some anger in Minnesota, but the report only says there are indications he's moving his family there. It doesn't say he's going to play there.

Cousins, who will be 36 years old this season, is trying to come back from a torn Achilles tendon.

The reason this situation affects the Bears is if it occurs one primary potential trade partner for Fields could be eliminated.

According to Daniel Flick of FanNation's Falcon Report, the Bears and Falcons met during the combine last week for a discussion, although the specific nature wasn't revealed. The assumption was they talked about Fields.

As it is, there appears to be a small market for Fields. 

The Steelers, Raiders and even Vikings have been mentioned by various national insiders as the other potential landing spots for the Bears.

“Chicago will need multiple teams in the fray to drive a market, and after asking around, I expect Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas and Minnesota to be on Fields’ radar,” ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported.

Minnesota would seem a very unlikely location from the standpoint of the Bears, because they'd be facing him twice a year. The Raiders may or may not be a good place for Fields because the offensive coordinator is former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

And offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh had a chance to draft Fields while he was Atlanta coach but didn't. However, he doesn't call the shots for the Steelers and even with reports two weeks ago stating a lack of interest, there have been persistent rumors to the contrary.

Free agency negotations can't begin until March 11 at 11 a.m. and it runs until 3 p.m. on March 13. Then teams are allowed to officially sign players.

Bears scheduled for free agency barring a new contract are cornerback Jaylon Johnson, wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Equanimeous St. Brown, defensive tackle Justin Jones, defensive ends Yannick Ngakoue and Rasheem Green, tight ends Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan Jr., and centers Lucas Patrick and Dan Feeney.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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