How did Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix fare in the quarterback room?
Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousins talks about what it was like working with rookie and first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. in the Falcons’ quarterback room.
Sport in Seriousness
The Atlanta Falcons caused shock waves in the NFL in the 2024 draft when they selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall.
On the surface, that looks normal for a franchise that has struggled to find consistent play under center. But just weeks before the draft, Atlanta made one of the biggest splashes in free agency when they signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a huge contract.
This is why Atlanta spent the draft capital on the passer:
Why did the Falcons draft Michael Penix Jr.?
While the Falcons seemed to have their foot in the door at quarterback after signing Cousins, Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot made it clear at his post-first-round press conference that he simply believed in Michael Penix Jr.’s talent:
“If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him. And if he sits out four or five years, that’s a big problem because we’re so good at that position,” Fontenot said. “So it’s simple: If you see a guy you believe in at that position, you have to take him.”
He added that Penix’s intangibles and attributes would convince the front office to make this selection. Fontenot made it clear that Cousins would be the starter early in the season, which he was. Given Cousins’ current contract, it’s hard to imagine Penix Jr. playing quarterback anytime soon.
The left-hander from Washington is known for his outstanding character and ability to handle adversity, and Fontenot received owner Blank’s blessing and made his selection just weeks after guaranteeing Cousins $100 million.
Penix Jr. comes from a pass-heavy system run by Ryan Grubb, the current offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. Atlanta felt that Penix fit the needs of their new offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, who comes from Sean McVay’s offense, in a quarterback. He is an excellent pocket passer, similar to Matthew Stafford and Cousins.
In his final season in Washington, Penix Jr. led the FBS with 4,903 passing yards, ranked third with 36 passing touchdowns and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He is a 24-year-old rookie and has the potential to develop quickly behind Cousins. Some draft experts compare him to Tua Tagovailoa in the NFL.
The Falcons had franchise quarterback Matt Ryan on the team not too long ago. They parted ways with the former MVP before the 2022 season when they traded him to the Indianapolis Colts. They then signed veteran Marcus Mariota and drafted Desmond Ridder in the third round. Atlanta finished 7-10 over the past two seasons and decided an overhaul of the quarterback room was necessary for 2024.
Owner Arthur Blank also hired a new coaching staff after firing Arthur Smith, who had worked for the team for three years. On January 25, Atlanta hired former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their next head coach. With a new regime in town, they didn’t wait long to evaluate the quarterback position. On March 11, Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. NFL fans and media assumed this would be the defining move of the offseason and catapult the Falcons to the top of the NFC South.
Despite the heated reaction from across the league to the draft selection, however, some have forgotten: Cousins suffered a torn Achilles tendon on October 29 of last season while playing for the Minnesota Vikings. There is no guarantee that the 36-year-old playmaker will be able to return to his pre-injury performance on the field. A high-profile replacement like Penix Jr. could be just what Atlanta needs if Cousins struggles in his return.
Atlanta could adopt a similar model to the one the Green Bay Packers have had success with. Green Bay drafted Jordan Love 26th overall in 2020, and he sat on the bench behind Aaron Rodgers for three seasons before being named the starter.
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Kirk Cousins Contract
The Falcons quarterback signed a four-year, $180 million contract, with $100 million guaranteed. His contract with Atlanta includes a no-trade clause.
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