Michael Penix Jr.

Falcons Believed Michael Penix Jr. Could Start In Week 1; Kirk Cousins To Ponder Retirement?

December 22nd, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Rory Parks

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. will make the first start of his professional career today following Atlanta’s momentous (but obvious) decision to bench veteran Kirk Cousins in favor of the rookie passer. While Cousins — who had signed a four-year, $180MM deal this offseason to help lead the club on a championship run — was obviously given a long leash, the Falcons believed Penix was ready to take the reins from the jump.

As SI.com’s Albert Breer said during an interview on last week’s TNF Tonight program, Atlanta would have been comfortable starting Penix in Week 1 if necessary (video link). The Washington standout played collegiately for six years, and even when Cousins was at the top of the depth chart, Penix was getting about 10 first-team reps per week while seeing plenty of action with the scout team.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds further context, writing that Penix had the same listening device in his helmet as Cousins during practice and would watch film of what Cousins did and then go through it mentally himself before running the same plays with the club’s young receivers. Rapoport also noted that, each practice, there was a competitive period in which Penix would have the opportunity to run the Falcons’ plays instead of scout-team plays. Those opportunities could be the same first-team reps that Breer referenced, but in any event, Atlanta has long believed that Penix is physically and mentally prepared to assume QB1 duties.

Of course, his arm strength and running ability should also open up the playbook. Breer observes that Cousins hurt his shoulder and elbow during a Week 10 loss to the Saints, and that the veteran signal-caller had not been the same since. Indeed, prior to that New Orleans contest, Cousins was coming off a two-game stretch in which he threw for seven TDs and no interceptions while posting QB ratings of 145.9 and 144.8. But in the next five games, he threw just one touchdown against nine interceptions, and his physical ailments limited the Falcons from a play-calling standpoint.

There will be no such limitation with Penix at the controls, and the expectation is that Cousins will be released in the offseason. Rapoport acknowledges that a release is generally viewed as the most likely outcome, but he does leave open the possibility that the Falcons could retain Cousins as a high-end backup/insurance policy since they are obligated to pay his fully-guaranteed $27.5MM 2025 salary anyway (and since Penix will still be on his affordable rookie deal).

The bigger issue, at least from a financial perspective, would be the $10MM roster bonus for 2026 that locks in if Cousins is still on the roster on the fifth day of the 2025 league year in March. Still, a Cousins return remains on the table and is more plausible than a trade. The four-time Pro Bowler has a full no-trade clause, and since he is much more valuable to another team as a free agent who could be had for a veteran minimum deal than a trade candidate, he is not expected to waive the NTC (his situation is similar to Russell Wilson’s, who was able to sign with the Steelers for the veteran minimum following his Broncos release this offseason since Denver was on the hook for his 2024 pay).

Cousins may, however, contemplate retirement. He will turn 37 before the 2025 season begins, and Rapoport says Cousins is expected to take a month or so after the current campaign is over to consider his playing future. He would be walking away from a large sum of money if he were to call it a career, but the master of negotiation has already earned just shy of $300MM from his NFL contracts.

Falcons Expected To Release Kirk Cousins This Offseason

December 21st, 2024 at 10:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Kirk Cousins‘ stint in Atlanta will likely last one season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, there’s an expectation that the Falcons will cut the veteran quarterback before he’s owed his $10MM roster bonus in mid-March. Some sources described the impending divorce as “inevitable.”

The Falcons made one of the biggest moves of this past offseason when they inked the free agent QB to a four-year, $180MM deal. A month later, the organization shocked the league when they added another quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth-overall pick. Cousins was naturally given the first shot to run with the job, but he’s struggled mightily over the past month-plus. Since Week 10, Cousins has tossed only one touchdown vs. nine interceptions, and the team finally announced that they were pivoting to their rookie for Week 16.

By shifting Penix to the top of the depth chart, the Falcons signaled that Cousins probably wouldn’t be on the roster for the 2025 campaign. While cutting the veteran isn’t the team’s only option, it seems like the most likely. As Schefter notes, there’s a belief that the Falcons wouldn’t be able to find a trade suitor for their recent acquisition.

Cousins has a no-trade clause, and assuming he’s not particularly happy with how things have played out in Atlanta, it’s understood that the QB won’t “be doing any favors” for the Falcons by waiving that NTC. Indeed, some sources believe Cousins may have been more willing to work with the Falcons front office on a trade had the organization handled things differently this past offseason (per Schefter). Cousins reportedly had no idea that the Falcons would use the eighth-overall pick on a QB until they called Cousins on draft night, and while the free agent prize has remained professional, his camp clearly wasn’t happy with the team’s draft-night approach.

Cousins will be locked into his fully guaranteed 2025 $27.5MM salary regardless of his roster status in Atlanta. So, when he’s eventually released, he can catch on with another squad for the minimum (while making the Falcons pick up most of the tab on his 2025 earnings). We saw a similar scenario play out last offseason with Russell Wilson. Greg Auman of FOX Sports notes that the Falcons could attempt to convert some of his salary into a bonus, making a trade more palatable. Still, that route would require Cousins to work with the Falcons, and even then, it’s uncertain if a suitor would emerge despite a lower hypothetical financial commitment.

The Falcons could also simply keep Cousins on the roster for the 2025 campaign. As a Falcons official noted to Schefter, Penix’s $5.2MM salary number for the 2025 campaign does provide the front office with some flexibility. However, considering how things have developed with the veteran, it seems unlikely that the Falcons would willingly set up a QB competition.

If the Falcons are hoping to avoid that $10MM guarantee, Auman believes the organization probably won’t dress Cousins for the stretch run as they look to avoid an injury. So, in all likelihood, Cousins has already made his final appearance with the Falcons organization. As ESPN’s Field Yates notes, the veteran will ultimately earn nearly $90M in cash for just 14 starts. In his comeback from a torn Achilles, Cousins connected on 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and a league-leading 16 interceptions.

Despite the worrisome drop in production, Cousins will likely be one of the biggest names on the free agent market for a second-straight offseason. With the likes of Sam Darnold and Wilson currently sitting atop the anticipated QB class, Cousins shouldn’t struggled to find a suitor…especially when you consider that his next squad won’t have to break the bank to sign him to a one-year pact.

Falcons To Bench Kirk Cousins, Start Michael Penix In Week 16

December 17th, 2024 at 10:42pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Falcons are expected to bench veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in favor of rookie Michael Penix for their Week 16 matchup with the Giants, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris released a statement confirming the switch under center: “After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward. This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”

Cousins has struggled in recent weeks, throwing nine interceptions and just one touchdown since Week 10. That culminated in another rough game against the Raiders on Monday Night Football in Week 15 in which the veteran signal-caller completed just 11 of his 17 passing attempts for 112 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Reporters then asked Morris about Cousins’ level of play after Monday night’s game.

“He’s got to play better,” Morris said, via ProFootball Talk’s Mike Florio. “We’ve got to find a way to get him to play better.”

Morris was then asked about the possibility of replacing Cousins with Penix, the eighth overall pick in this past April’s draft. Morris’ answer fueled speculation that he was considering such a move: “We’ve got everybody on our roster for a reason, right?…Those things will always be discussed. That’s just the nature of the beast in football. It’s just so heavily talked about at the quarterback position because there’s only one guy out there.”

The same questions resurfaced during Morris’ Tuesday presser. His non-answer hinted that his staff was already thinking about benching Cousins. This marks the second time in three years the Falcons have benched their starting quarterback in December. Their decision to park Marcus Mariota late in his first season with the team effectively led the former No. 2 overall pick away. The team’s ensuing Desmond Ridder plan failing keyed the Cousins-Penix offseason.

“We still have to go through that process,” Morris said (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic). “All those things will happen over the course of the week. We didn’t play well enough at the quarterback position.”

Now, Penix will make his first NFL start at a crucial time for the 7-7 Falcons. They trail the Buccaneers by one game in the NFC South and are two games back of the Commanders for the NFC’s last wild card spot. Atlanta’s front office drew criticism for using a top-10 pick on Penix just a month after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180MM contract in free agency, but the gamble might pay off if the rookie can lead the team to the playoffs.

Penix has only thrown five passes across two garbage-time appearances this season, but he has been “doing well behind the scenes,” according to Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan. The former Washington Husky led the NCAA with 4,903 passing yards (and 11 interceptions) in his last season, earning the Maxwell Award and a second-place finish for the Heisman Trophy. Penix will be the sixth of 11 quarterbacks selected in the 2024 draft to start at least one game as a rookie.

The Falcons drafted Penix as the future of their franchise, but he will be taking over for Cousins far earlier than expected. Cousins’ contract included fully guaranteed salaries in 2024 and 2025, indicating that he would have at least two years as the team’s starter. Arthur Blank had said the team did not necessarily plan to draft Penix at No. 8, but the team’s football ops department viewed Penix as too good to pass up — despite the standout college passer not being mocked that high for the most part — at that point of the draft.

Cousins expressed shock, joining most of the football-following population, when the Falcons pulled the trigger and drafted Penix eighth overall. The Falcons were later docked a fifth-round pick for tampering in signing the former Washington and Minnesota starter. Months later, his future in Atlanta is in doubt.

The Falcons will have to navigate Cousins’ sizable contract if they want to move on from him this offseason. Cutting him outright before June 1 would force the team to absorb the remaining $65MM of Cousins’ guaranteed money as a dead cap hit in 2025, per OverTheCap. That would be the largest single-season dead cap hit in NFL history, surpassing the $53MM the Broncos took on this year after cutting Russell Wilson.

A post-June 1 release would allow the Falcons to spread out the dead money with $40MM in 2025 and $25MM in 2026. A trade, even for minimal draft compensation, would be the most efficient option; the Falcons could transfer Cousins’ $27.5MM fully guaranteed base salary in 2025 to the acquiring team while accepting the remaining $37.5MM of his prorated signing bonus as a dead cap hit.

Tom Brady To Play ‘Huge’ Role In Raiders’ Personnel Plans; Mark Davis Not Mandating QB Pick?

December 11th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Since ditching their solid but unspectacular Derek Carr plan, the Raiders have delivered a rudderless two years at quarterback. They have not seen their free agency and draft plans pan out, and the organization is amid a lengthy buildup to another true search for an answer.

Although the Raiders looked into Tom Brady as a player ahead of the 2023 free agency period, the former Josh McDaniels pupil retired for a second time. That did not stop Mark Davis from aligning with the QB legend soon after. It took a bit, but Brady’s ownership stake is now official, leading to what promises to be a prominent partnership — one that will not place the 23-year veteran as a figurehead.

Brady will play a “huge” role in personnel, with Davis going as far as to confirm this (via the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore) at the latest owners meetings Wednesday. Bonsignore reported earlier this week Brady will hold a prominent place in the Raiders’ decision-making hierarchy “over time.” This invites obvious intrigue due to Brady’s stature and how it will impact the authority of GM Tom Telseco, who controls the Raiders’ roster. This is a night-and-day turnaround from Brady’s June 2023 assessment, which pegged a “very passive” role in Las Vegas.

More specifically, Davis wants to hear an honest assessment from a qualified staffer who is not fearing for his job, according to Yahoo’s Charles Robinson. Buying a stake in the Raiders earlier this season — after more than a year of waiting — Brady has no concerns of being pushed out. The NFL has allowed him to operate dually as FOX’s top analyst, albeit with significant sanctions, and minority Raiders owner. That setup is interesting enough by itself, but with Brady set to help shape the Raiders’ long-term plan, how they will go about addressing the quarterback spot will be a central 2025 NFL storyline.

Brady does not hold personnel experience, but Davis is certainly set to lean on this century’s highest-profile player’s body of work within the game. As it stands, Brady will be perhaps the lead decision-maker when it comes to Las Vegas determining its QB answer.

As for where that player will come from, a drafted arm might not be a lock. Conflicting accounts have emerged, per Robinson, as to whether Davis will demand the Raiders draft a starter-caliber QB. Be it through the draft or a veteran acquisition, Robinson adds Davis will mandate a long-term plan to fix this issue. The Raiders also want to improve their roster before acquiring a to-be-determined long-term QB, Robinson adds, noting that in-house extensions may be on the horizon. Given the Raiders’ 2-11 record, it will be interesting to see which players become targets.

Although Ken Stabler played longer with the Raiders, Carr operated as the longest-running QB1 in team history. The Raiders erred by signing Jimmy Garoppolo, and Antonio Pierce repeatedly benched Garder Minshew despite the team having signed him to a two-year, $25MM deal in March. Since Carr was parked in Week 17 of the 2022 season due to his contract, the Raiders have started six quarterbacks. That number might balloon to seven Sunday, if Desmond Ridder is needed in place of Aidan O’Connell. Neither of those passers, however, will be expected to factor into Telesco, Davis and now Brady’s long-term plan.

With a month left in the season, the Raiders are projected to hold the No. 1 overall pick. This top-heavy season, though, has produced a host of challengers for that spot. And the 2025 draft’s QB crop is not viewed especially well. That could prompt the Raiders to look into other options — be it a true starter or another bridge plan ahead of 2026. Antonio Pierce, who pushed for a Jayden Daniels reunion, would almost definitely — if he is retained, that is — be against a second bridge plan ahead of a 2026 draft choice. But Pierce or his replacement will be answering to Brady and Telesco on this matter.

Once they learned no Daniels trade would happen, the Raiders had Michael Penix Jr. as a potential fallback option. But the team did not want to trade up for the Washington prospect, who went eighth overall to Atlanta. The Falcons choosing Penix at 8 flummoxed the Raiders, Robinson adds, as the Telesco-led front office believed he would be there at 13. With Penix going at 8, the Broncos scuttled any plans to trade down and drafted Bo Nix — who visited the Raiders — at 12. This left the Raiders in the cold at QB, though they did do well to acquire Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Brock Bowers in a best-player-available pick.

Bowers’ historic pace should bode well for Telesco’s standing within the building, but soon he will need to provide Brady with answers at quarterback. It will be quite interesting to find out who will hold the anvil when it comes to how the franchise proceeds here in 2025, but given Davis’ comments, it should not be expected Brady will encounter significant pushback if he voices a strong opinion about a near-future path.

QB Rumors: Falcons, Daniels, Rams, Titans

October 23rd, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons‘ offseason quarterback plan drew considerable scrutiny, and evaluators are skeptical the team will carry it out. Kirk Cousins, who sits third in the NFL with 1,830 passing yards (highlighted by a 500-yard showing against the Buccaneers), is entrenched as Atlanta’s starting QB presently. Though, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes some around the league do not believe the Falcons will sit No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons like they have planned to do. A Penix push toward a 2025 starting job would stand to bring forth Cousins trade rumors.

While nothing concrete has emerged on the Cousins front, this is not the first time execs have predicted a 2025 Falcons QB trade. Some in May predicted the long-rumored Cousins-Kyle Shanahan reunion would commence — if the 49ers become squeamish on a Brock Purdy megadeal. The Falcons have Cousins signed through 2027, though they have a clear out in 2026 — after $90MM of his $100MM guarantee will have been paid out. Penix, however, is already 24. Sitting the southpaw prospect until his age-26 season would not be optimal for the Falcons. Cousins’ 2025 money is fully guaranteed, which will be challenging for a trade. But if Penix’s development moves this situation toward a potential 2025 controversy, expect another offseason of Cousins rumors.

Here is the latest from the QB ranks:

Jayden Daniels did not practice Wednesday, moving Marcus Mariota closer to making his first start since 2022. The rib injury the Commanders QB sustained is not considered serious, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, but it would also not surprise — given the way Daniels winced after trying to return in Week 7 — if Washington exercised caution with the player who has a great chance of being the team’s first long-term QB1 in decades. Mariota played effectively against the Panthers but has not made a start since his controversial Falcons exit in December 2022.
The Titans have not seen their Will Levis development project produce notable strides. Crippling turnovers have played a key role in Tennessee’s 1-5 start, and Levis is now leading with a shoulder injury. Among qualified options, the 2023 second-rounder ranks ahead of only Deshaun Watson in QBR. As such, SI.com’s Albert Breer guesses the franchise will go into 2025 with an objective to find a new quarterback. It is still early, but at this rate, Tennessee giving Levis a third year to prove he can be a locked-in starter would be a reach. Ran Carthon‘s club would be an interesting destination, given the resources allocated to upgrading the offensive talent level around Levis this offseason.
Ditto the Rams, who have Matthew Stafford on a year-to-year arrangement. The Rams have not dangled Stafford in trades this year, separating the 16th-year veteran from Cooper Kupp, but they also did not authorize significant guarantee upgrades — like the QB sought — beyond 2024. As a result, Breer adds the team should be considered in play to draft Stafford’s heir apparent next year. Los Angeles is running out of time to land a successor who would develop behind Stafford, who is signed through 2026. Adding assets to help with that potential mission could be on the team’s mind now, as a Kupp trade would go toward that haul. The Rams and Chiefs discussed Kupp, but L.A.’s asking price — a second-rounder — may be steep for a player who has battled injuries in each of the seasons since his transcendent 2021.
Aaron Rodgers does not appear in jeopardy of missing Week 8, but the Jets quarterback is now on the team’s injury report with three maladies. The 40-year-old starter is battling hamstring, knee and ankle maladies. Rodgers’ hamstring “flared up” against the Steelers, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini tweets.

QB Kirk Cousins Experiencing No Lingering Issues From Achilles

September 14th, 2024 at 11:10am CST by Ben Levine

Kirk Cousins struggled during his Falcons debut, which has naturally led to questions about the QB’s health. Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes that the quarterback’s “leg feels good” following his comeback from an Achilles injury, and there aren’t any “lingering issues from his surgery.”

Russini admits that “there is some rust,” which is probably as expected. Cousins didn’t play in the preseason, meaning his Week 1 start was the first time he took the field since suffering his Achilles injury in Week 8 of last season. Russini adds that the offseason acquisition is still showing signs of “hesitation when it comes to getting hit again at game speed,” something the 13-year veteran will surely shake off.

The other contributing factor to the Falcons’ Week 1 offensive struggles surround new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. After serving on the Rams coaching staff for years, this is Robinson’s first time calling plays, with one source telling Russini that we should “extend the same understanding” to first-year play callers as we do with first-year quarterbacks.

Things couldn’t have gone much worse for Cousins in his debut. The veteran tossed a pair of interceptions while leading his squad to only one touchdown. The Falcons offense also had a botched snap and several penalties. Cousins is hopeful that he can guide the offense to a more “crisp” performance on Monday night.

“I got to play better, I got to operate better and I was probably at the center of it not being clean and crisp,” Cousins said (via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi). “So, that frustrated me deeply, because I can place such an importance on that, in running the operation clean and crisp. And that’s what has to be better Monday.”

While the Faclons’ sizable offseason commitment to Cousins would indicate they’re willing to stick through early-season hiccups, that probably won’t stop the veteran from looking over his shoulder. The team surprised many by taking Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the draft, and the front office may have unintentionally set up a QB controversy if Cousins’ struggles continue.

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. Will Not Play During Preseason Finale

August 17th, 2024 at 6:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Eyebrows were raised on Saturday when Michael Penix Jr. did not suit up for the Falcons’ preseason contest against the Ravens. The first-round rookie quarterback will also be on the sidelines for Atlanta’s final exhibition contest despite not being injured.

“Mike showed us last week enough that we don’t have to play him [further] in the preseason,” head coach Raheem Morris said after the game, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall (subscription required). “Last week, we wanted to get him out there and get a feel for what he was in a live game, wanted to see him be able answer questions and talk about it on the sideline, he did a lot of those things. We saw enough last week with Michael Penix in live stuff.”

Indeed, the No. 8 pick took part in the Falcons’ first preseason contest against the Dolphins. He started that game, completing nine of 16 pass attempts for 104 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. That action – in addition to reps during training camp, of course – will wind up being the only time Penix sees the field before the regular season, however. Starter Kirk Cousins has taken all first-team reps upon returning to health from his 2023 Achilles tear, and to little surprise he has not played so far in the preseason and will not be used next week.

Of course, Atlanta’s decision to add Cousins on a four-year, $180MM contract and then select Penix is the dominant storyline of the team’s offseason. Cousins was taken aback by the Penix selection, and owner Arthur Blank‘s latest comments on the decision confirmed the team did not intially anticipate selecting a Day 1 signal-caller. Nevertheless, plenty of consideration was given to re-vamping the quarterback position during the offseason.

A lengthy piece from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Marc Raimondi details that Raheem Morris was aware of Atlanta’s situation under center being a key reason why there was a head coaching vacancy in the winter. Arthur Smith was fired after a third straight 7-10 season, and the search for his replacement ultimately landed in Morris being brought back into the organization. His performance upon return – coupled with the play of Cousins under center – will go a long way in determining if the Falcons return to the postseason in 2024.

As the ESPN report notes, staffers within the organization were split on whether to take Penix or edge rusher Laiatu Latu in the first round. The UCLA product was seen by some as the top prospect at his position (in competition with Dallas Turner), and pass rush represented a much larger need than quarterback after the Cousins signing. Atlanta attempted to move back into the first round after the Penix selection to acquire Latu, but the latter wound up going at No. 15 to the Colts. Turner came off the board two picks later, well before the Falcons’ next selection. Of course, Atlanta has since added Matt Judon via trade to help along the edge.

The team – like many others around the NFL – was not high on the quarterback classes of the immediate future, a factor which helped inform the commitment to Penix. As Fowler and Raimondi add, other elements such as the success of the Packers’ model in developing QBs on a lengthy timeline and the expectation a top passer will be out of reach in future drafts due to strong showings with Cousins helped sway the decision. Being on the books through 2028 (if his fifth-year option is picked up) will give Penix plenty of time to acclimate to the NFL level provided Cousins remains healthy.

The latter’s base salaries for 2024 and ’25 are guaranteed, and Morris made it clear after the draft there will be no competition despite Penix being added. Especially in the wake of that stance, it is surprising the Washington alum did not see any action today and will not be on the field next week. Penix’s absence opened up more time for Taylor Heinicke, who will likely also get the start for the preseason finale.

Heinicke is believed to be on the trade block, and it would come as no surprise if he were to be moved between now and roster cutdowns at the end of the month given the presence of Cousins and Penix for 2024 and beyond. In any event, Penix will not be in position to see the field again this season unless Cousins is forced to miss time through injury for the second straight year.

Falcons Hoping To Trade QB Taylor Heinicke?

August 10th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons invested heavily in the quarterback position this offseason. As a result, the team may be shopping their lone holdover at the position. As Josh Kendall of The Athletic writes, the Falcons staff is “behaving like it would prefer to get some trade value for Taylor Heinicke” vs. keeping him around as a QB3.

Heinicke had a successful run in Washington between 2021 and 2022, guiding his squad to a 12-11-1 record as a starter. That performance helped earn him a two-year, $14MM deal with his hometown Falcons last offseason, where he was expected to provide former third-round pick Desmond Ridder with some competition. Heinicke ultimately got four starts for Atlanta, going 1-3 while completing a career-low 54.4 percent of his passes.

The Falcons rebooted their QB position this offseason. First, they handed Kirk Cousins a lucrative contract, providing the organization with some veteran consistency at the position for the first time since the Matt Ryan era. The team later surprised many when they also added first-round QB Michael Penix Jr., a decision that definitively locked up a second QB spot on the 53-man roster.

While the team generally carried three QBs in 2023 while taking advantage of the league’s emergency quarterback spot, that might not be the case in 2024. Kendall says the team may prefer to just stash a young option on the practice squad as a QB3, and that means Heinicke (along with current QB4 Nathan Rourke) would likely be on the outside looking in.

While the Falcons would surely prefer to trade their quarterback, it may be easier said than done. Teams won’t be willing to give up a whole lot if they expect the Falcons to eventually cut Heinicke, and any QB-needy squads may just prefer to take their chances in a post-preseason bidding war. On the flip side, Heinicke doesn’t necessarily break the bank with his $4.5MM cap hit, and his starting experience could be valuable for teams seeking a dependable QB2. All the Falcons need is one suitor, but the team shouldn’t expect more than a late-round swap for the 31-year-old.

Arthur Blank: Falcons Did Not Plan To Pick First-Round QB

July 31st, 2024 at 10:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons adding Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 became easily this draft’s most discussed decision. Giving Kirk Cousins a $100MM practical guarantee and then turning to Round 1 to add a successor represents a free agency-era zag, and Arthur Blank indicated this was not necessarily the team’s pre-draft plan.

Blank said Cousins was informed pre-draft the Falcons were planning to select a quarterback, but the longtime owner noted the plan was not to pick a passer eighth overall. Grades on Penix (and a lukewarm view of the 2025 and ’26 QB classes, as early as it is regarding those future crops) led to the team pulling the trigger, and Raheem Morris said in April the team informed Cousins of that pick minutes before it was made. The team’s decision left Cousins “stunned.”

“I think (Cousins) was surprised as many people were and frankly we were,” Blank said of Penix being available at No. 8, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall (subscription required). “Our plan was not to pick a quarterback at No. 8, but the grades our coaching staff had on Penix and him being available at No. 8 it turned out that that’s what happened.”

“We made it clear to Kirk that we probably were going to draft a quarterback in this draft, and it turned out that Michael Penix, who our coaching staff and personnel department graded extraordinarily high, they viewed him as a tremendous player, (was available),”

This is an unusual account of the Falcons’ draft plan, as the uproar about Penix going to Atlanta stemmed from the Washington prospect going earlier than expected (and to a team that had just given a QB a four-year, $180MM deal). It would be odd if Cousins was surprised by Penix remaining on the board at No. 8, given that questions about the left-hander had him at least dropping into the teens. The Raiders, at No. 13, were a popular Penix spot in mock drafts. Several teams placed a second-round grade on Penix, though a number of coaches were high on him. After the Falcons surprisingly made a move for one of the six first-round-level QBs, the Broncos shut down any effort to trade down from No. 12 in fear the Raiders would then draft Bo Nix.

The Falcons’ move to nab Penix created a running storyline. Cousins declined to answer whether he would have signed with the Falcons had he known they would have chosen Penix. While the veteran may still have done so due to the $100MM guarantee Atlanta was willing to authorize, this will be a closely monitored situation for as long as the two passers are on the roster. Unsurprisingly, Blank’s view of recent Falcons QB situations prompted the aggressive offseason at the position.

“We have seen that movie where we didn’t have a franchise quarterback, and we didn’t want to repeat that again,” Blank said. “I certainly didn’t.”

Blank and the Falcons have certainly shifted course. A year ago, the owner was eager to build around Desmond Ridder’s rookie contract. Blank had explained why the Falcons, who were close to acquiring Deshaun Watson in 2022, joined the rest of the NFL in not pursuing Lamar Jackson after the Ravens QB’s trade request surfaced. The Falcons built their 2023 offseason around Ridder, naming him the former third-rounder the starter months before training camp. After the team benched Ridder on multiple occasions last season, it moved him to Arizona for Rondale Moore.

The Falcons are back in the franchise-QB contract business, with Cousins — barring a trade — locked in for at least two seasons. The longtime Vikings starter, who recently received full clearance, is coming off an Achilles tear ahead of his age-36 season. Penix is already 24, separating this plan from the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordan Love succession; Love was 21 when Green Bay traded up for him.

This decision obviously cut into Atlanta’s ability to build a team around Cousins, as efforts to trade back into Round 1 for a pass rusher did not succeed. But the Falcons do now have a long-term plan in place at the game’s premier position. Rumors will undoubtedly persist about the team’s QB situation, but for now, no question exists as to which one is the starter.

“Kirk Cousins is our franchise quarterback. He is our starting quarterback and he seems to be doing great from a medical standpoint,” Blank said. “… But I know age does kind of creep up. I can speak for myself personally on that. We also know that there will be a point where we will need a transition, and we want to do that smoothly.

“I’m very sensitive on behalf of our fan base on not having a period of time post-Kirk Cousins to have a gap again between having that kind of franchise quarterback and being in the spin cycle and not being able to get out.”

Blank said he was closely involved in the Falcons’ pre-draft process but reminded (via Kendall) Terry Fontenot and the team’s personnel staff have the final say and made the ultimate call. That choice will likely determine the GM’s future in Atlanta, as the team is riding a three-season streak of 7-10 records.

“They don’t have to clear (picks) with me,” Blank said. “They just have to make me aware of what is going on. I don’t like surprises. They know that, but it’s not up to me to make those decisions. It’s up to them and for me to understand the logic behind it.”

Falcons’ Kirk Cousins, Grady Jarrett Medically Cleared

July 25th, 2024 at 10:49am CST by Adam La Rose

As the Falcons begin training camp, two of their most important players have received a clean bill of health. Head coach Raheem Morris announced on Thursday that quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett have been cleared to take part in training camp (h/t ESPN’s Marc Raimondi).

The news comes as little surprise given the team’s recovery expectations for both players. Jarrett hoped to be back to 100% in time for the start of camp, and that has proven to be the case. The two-time Pro Bowler was limited to eight games last season due to an ACL tear suffered on the same day Cousins’ campaign was cut short by a torn Achilles.

The latter’s rehab has been a key storyline throughout the offseason as he prepares for his debut Atlanta campaign. Cousins said earlier this month he intended to be back at full strength no later than August 1, so today’s update is an encouraging sign. It has long been expected the Falcons would take a cautious approach with the 35-year-old’s practice workload as he continues to rehab, but he will have not share time with the starting offense this summer.

Morris said (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic) Cousins will receive all of Atlanta’s first-team reps during training camp. That will leave first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. and incumbent Taylor Heinicke to split time with the team’s backups. Cousins has already been assured of the starting gig in spite of Penix’s draft status, leaving him free to focus on his transition to Atlanta at the start of his four-year, $160MM pact. Penix, meanwhile, will aim to lock down the QB2 role over the coming weeks.

The Falcons made a pair of draft investments along the defensive interior this spring, but Jarrett will remain a focal point upon his return to health in 2024. The 31-year-old has recorded multiple sacks seven times in his career, and two years remain on his current contract. He and Cousins will have a full training camp under their belts by the time the campaign starts.

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