A post-draft report pegged Kirk Cousins as stunned by the Falcons’ decision to choose Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. The move came after the team signed Cousins to a contract that includes $100MM in practical guarantees.
Some around the league are already wondering if the Falcons will be ready to trade Cousins in 2025, as only the Packers have tried a multiyear QB apprenticeship during the rookie pay-scale era (2011-present). Cousins did respond, “I don’t deal in hypotheticals” when asked if he would have signed with the Falcons knowing they would use a top-10 pick on a passer. But the veteran QB is onboard with Atlanta’s current (and unexpected) setup.
[RELATED: Raheem Morris Addresses Falcons’ QB Situation]
“I don’t really deal in hypotheticals. We could go down that path for a long time in a lot of ways,” Cousins said, via Falcons.com’s Terrin Waack. “It just doesn’t do us any good. I’m excited for this opportunity that I have. I think it’s a real privilege to be a quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, and I’m trying to make good on the opportunity that they’ve given me with the way I work each day and the way we play this fall.
Cousins, 35, then compared this situation (via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter) to Washington drafting both he and Robert Griffin III in 2012 and Michigan State signing Nick Foles as a recruit in 2007. Foles transferred to Arizona after one season. Washington also had no plans of using Cousins as a starter, with that path emerging after RG3’s career began to skid off course. As we detailed during a recent Trade Rumors Front Office post, no direct 21st-century comp exists of a team committing to a high-profile starter (for big money) and following it up with a first-round pick a month later.
“Mike’s been great. There’s always going to be competition in this league and you have to go out and earn it,” Cousins said, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall. “I’m going to control what I can control and I understand there’s a lot you can’t control.”
Part of the reason Cousins departed Minnesota came due to the team informing him a quarterback pick was likely. Now, Cousins is in that situation in Atlanta. The Falcons may not have been fully committed to go in this direction until its new coaching staff arrived, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noting the hires of Raheem Morris and his staff coming close to free agency may well have influenced the team to acquire a stable quarterback before doing work on the draft class. Penix’s throwing session during a workout in Seattle moved the needle for the Falcons, as Fowler adds the Morris-led staff zeroed in on the Washington product.
Falcons national scout Joel Collier provided the initial report that led to Penix going eighth overall, Ledbetter adds. Collier’s work on Penix began following the 2023 draft, and the left-handed QB obviously built on his profile with a dominant 2023.
“Shoot, that goes back to, all of our guys in this draft, that goes back to the year before,” Falcons assistant GM Kyle Smith said during a feature on the team’s YouTube channel. “So, our guys will start evaluating the players for next year’s draft at the end of May here. So, Joel was the guy who really liked Penix.”
Smith referred to Collier, the former Chiefs assistant GM, as the “primary scout” on the Penix project. Other members of the organization cross-checked his report on the former Indiana recruit, and the new coaching staff became involved later in the process. The Falcons attempted to trade back into the first round, which would have cost considerable future capital, with Laiatu Latu being the target in what would have been a way for the team to add Penix and grab a high-end prospect to help the 2024 team. That plan did not produce a trade, however, and the Falcons exited the first round with a player who might ride the bench for multiple seasons.
“We had an opportunity in unrestricted free agency to add a guy that we believe in, and it’s an expensive addition because he’s that guy,” Smith said of Cousins. “He’s our quarterback. He is our starter. He’s the guy we believe we can win with. He’s the leader.”
Coming off a torn Achilles suffered Oct. 29, 2023, Cousins is moving close to being cleared for full work. He is not there yet, but Morris said (via Pro Football Talk) the recently signed QB has been “pretty much full-go” for what the team is asking him to do in voluntary workouts. Full clearance is not expected during the offseason program, but Cousins expects to be at full speed when camp starts.
Until then, the previously durable passer will continue his rehab while Penix — who dealt with a number of major injuries while at Indiana from 2018-21 — assimilates, creating a historically unusual situation. Penix’s development will certainly be a key 2024 subplot to monitor, though Cousins will still be set to move last year’s Division I-FBS passing leader out of the spotlight once he completes his recovery. But Penix’s progress will be a lingering issue — most likely throughout Cousins’ Atlanta stay.
I get where kirk a little jelly but you have to look at atlanta point of view they may not have that high of a pic again i mean kirk i good but not great but a hell of alot better than ridder so that will equal more wins atlanta just trying to cover they ass…
Ok that’s fine and all but don’t draft a 24 yr old with a major history of injuries
Fair enough…
The part that doesn’t make sense is that Atlanta is a bad team. They aren’t a contender looking to extend their contention window. They are a never ran looking to get into the race. You don’t do that by wasting a top pick on a guy that’s not projected to play. The future means nothing when the present is filled with failure. They need to establish themselves first, and then worry about extending contention.
Fair enough…
Starts with ownership. Not a Falcons fan, but it just comes across as a team who’s owner is a little to involved the daily decision making of the on field product. Is there some validity here? In other words, in the moment, he influenced taking Penix. A FO left alone to do their job doesn’t take Penix.
I wouldn’t say ATL is a “bad” team. Carolina is a bad team. ATLs offense has tools to score points, and the defense is average. Kicking out Arthur Smith is a plus. With Cousins they have a shot to compete for a weak division. I’m sure GB fans are happy they took Love when they did.
Ehhh, I’d say that Green Bay fans might be happy that Love turned out well. I’m sure that lessens the sting considerably, but many probably are wondering what would have happened had thd Packers picked someone there (or with ANY pick in that year’s draft) who could have immediately helped substantially on a team that got edged out in two consecutive NFC Championship games. Atlanta did sort of the same thing, here.
It’s like getting your windows tinted or car painted when your tires are about to blow out. Cousins is the sugar coating on a dog turd.
Except they aren’t a bad team. With a competent QB they make the playoffs the last 2 seasons.
Jealous? Nah, I think he’s just baffled and feeling a tad undersupported.
Competition is good for team building. Brings out the best in everyone. Cousins shouldn’t worry bout things out of his control, just prepare for season, perform @kick ass level, n ensure Penix rides the pine … “U Like That !”
“So, Joel was the guy who really liked Penix.”. -so fire Joel when this goes bad, not me.
Everyone over rates the value of a round one pick. Every draft has its share of first round busts and disappointments. If Atlanta loved Penix even after signing an aging Cousins on what is essentially a two year deal then so be it. For next couple of seasons they have a deep qb room and for next decade they believe they have their leader.
Except when defensive talent was needed and was available and the team picks an older, injury-prone prospect who will sit on the bench for 2+ years instead. That’s the bigger issue.
The Favre to Rodgers tutelage sure worked out, and the early returns on the Rodgers to Love tutelage sure look promising, so I don’t see what the big deal is. Draft a talented college QB, let him learn from a quality veteran, and pass the torch. I’ve seen enough highly regarded college QB’s get thrown into the fire, and fail, to know that college success rarely translates to immediate quality play in the NFL.
You’re not wrong, but I’d still be frustrated if I was Kirk and A) watched my new team use a top-10 pick on someone who isn’t going to see the field, and B) had to answer questions about my future before even taking a snap with my new team.
Even after waiting his turn Rodgers was still only 24 when he became GB’s starter. Penix is already 24. If he follows the same path he’ll be 27 by the time he gets a shot which is unheard of.
On the same level as having Mike Ditka as GM.
Fontenot just sucks at being a GM. Why over complicate it?
I think Kirk Cousins is mature and professional enough to handle the situation. He hasn’t run off to a darkness retreat to sulk like Rodgers did…so that’s a good sign.
Great comparison lmao
Kirk sounds like he’s worried he can’t beat out a draft pick
How about focus on your play my man and quit whining
Do you mind pointing out the whining that you’re referring to on Cousins’ part? I didn’t see it.
It’s pretty obvious given what’s been reported and reading between the lines
Umm no, that’s false. He was reportedly “shocked” by the Falcons pick but so was everyone else outside of the Falcons war room. He isn’t refusing to take Penix under his wing. His comments to the media have all been professional. I haven’t seen any whining whatsoever.
I didn’t read that at all. I’m betting that he is annoyed that they didn’t get him another WR, or at least someone that can contribute pretty quickly. It feels to me that Atlanta is playing for 2028. Cousins is likely in ‘win-now’ mode.
I hate myself for saying this but…
Shut Up & Play
I assume Cousins is annoyed that they didn’t take Odunze. That would’ve made their offense top-tier.
And I still don’t get the value aspect. The Bears are getting 5 years out of Odunze, while the Falcons are getting probably 2 years out of Penix. And I like Penix, and if my Raiders used the #13 on him, I’d have thought it was a reach, but I’d understand.
But the #8, when you already have a definite starting QB?
A ‘definite’ starting QB coming off an ACL tear… yeah he could go down any minute.
That falls under the heading of “anything can happen”. Even if Cousins misses the first couple of games, how much good do you think Penix will be?
If I were either Cousins OR Penix, I’d be irritated by the situation. It really doesn’t benefit either of them. Cousins is too old to worry about what happens beyond the next couple of years. He was obviously brought in to win now. Penix will be 26 before we can reasonably expect him to start. The argument that they might not have a top 10 pick to use on a QB prospect is a little ridiculous considering how many times this lame team has drafted in that area the past few years. They have a knack for drafting players at positions they don’t have a need for. We’ve been in desperate need of a pass rusher since John Abraham left. They had their pick of any of them this year and drafted a QB most had a second round rating on. I hate this team. It’s a curse to have them represent my home town