The top story of NFL free agency’s kickoff Monday was this one:

The Atlanta Falcons improved themselves by a few victories in reaching terms with free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins although he’ll be 36 this summer and will need time to recover further from October surgery on his right Achilles.

Cousins isn’t someone to lead Atlanta to its third Super Bowl — he’s never reached a conference title game with teams similar to the current Falcons club — but, having shown he’s a polished pocket passer, he should get what can be got from a young trio of Falcons playmakers who last year received subpar assistance from second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.

The Falcons are going from a quarterback who appeared overmatched in Ridder, 24, to one who shared the NFL lead in touchdown passes (18) through eight games before his Achilles gave out.

So pencil the Falcons for 10 wins, one better than Tampa Bay’s NFC South-best total last year.

No other NFL team should be expected to pick up three wins from a free-agent signee in coming days.

Because there’s always a San Diego angle…

Cousins’ much-awaited decision provided clarity for his head coach of the past two seasons — Carlsbad’s Kevin O’Connell, the former San Diego State quarterback who inherited Cousins two winters ago when the Minnesota Vikings hired him off Sean McVay’s staff days after the Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl.

Losing Cousins means O’Connell, 38, will now be judged on identifying a long-term quarterback and developing him into one who leads the club into the playoffs although likely not soon, given how formidable the youthful Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers appear.

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

Can the Vikings sit at No. 11 and take him there? Might they have to trade up to get McCarthy?

The answers will come Draft Night on April 25.

It’s not hometown bias to believe O’Connell, who Monday brought back fellow La Costa Canyon High School alum David Quessenberry to Minnesota’s offensive line, has shown promise as a head coach. His first Vikings team enjoyed good luck in going 11-0 in one-score decisions — an NFL record — but still mustered noticeable grit and improved offensive designs.

Cousins implied that O’Connell coaxed him into throwing more contested passes to good effect.

O’Connell’s second team proved a tough out even after losing Cousins, a sign O’Connell can adapt and that he made a good hire in defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who was a Patriots colleague when O’Connell backed up Tom Brady.

The Vikings won two games started by backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, a mid-season trade addition, and another game started by rookie Jarren Hall.

Whether O’Connell can stick long-term with the Vikings could hinge also on what the franchise does with star receiver Justin Jefferson. At 24, he’s an All-:Pro who will command a massive contract within two years. Does he want to stick around, while working with a QB who, at least initially, will be inferior to Cousins?

Change of pace

Free agency being what it is, the Raiders’ agreement with Christian Wilkins probably isn’t a bargain. The contract slots Wilkins behind only Aaron Donald and Chris Jones for guaranteed money to a defensive tackle.

The overdue good news for Raiders fans? The defensive line looks now like a build-around unit, something the Raiders have lacked in most years over the past two decades.

Wilkins, who’ll turn 29 in December, should jam up opponents’ ground games. Even if he doesn’t match his career-outlier production last year as a pass rusher — nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits — he ought to be more than a run-stuffer.

His linemates will include young productive ends in Maxx Crosby, 26, and Malcolm Koonce. 25, who had 14.5 sacks and eight sacks last year, respectively. End-tackle Tyree Wilson, 23, showed late-season growth, removing some concern that he was overdrafted at No. 7 last year

Wilkins will provide leadership and inside push, potentially taking the line to top-5 status. Perhaps new Raiders GM Tom Telesco learned a valuable lesson from his 11-year tenure that saw many Bolts teams field mediocre lines.

Martyball 2.0?

The expected, needed toughening up of the last-place Chargers is underway.

The team reached terms for a powerful running back in 238-pound Gus Edwards and an effective blocker in tight end Will Dissley.

Physicality was a prominent trait of Jim Harbaugh-coached teams with the 49ers, one of which reached a Super Bowl, and with Michigan, one of which this winter won Michigan’s first unanimous national title since 1948. New Chargers GM Joe Hortiz spent the past 26 years with a Ravens franchise that emphasized physicality and size more than most other NFL scouting departments.