Thursday’s NFL draft delivered a seismic surprise as the Atlanta Falcons made an unexpected move, selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr., despite recently securing veteran Kirk Cousins with a hefty four-year, $180 million contract.
The announcement of Penix as the first-round No. 8 draft pick sent shockwaves across social media platforms, catching even Cousins off guard.
“It was a big surprise. We had no idea this was coming,” Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, said in a text to the NFL Network. “The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up. Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we heard. It never came up in any conversation.”
In a foreboding pre-draft post on X, McCartney hinted at impending astonishment, setting the stage for the unforeseen selection.
Cousins, aged 35, has remained silent on the Falcons’ decision to draft Penix, leaving fans and analysts speculating about his reaction.
The news ignited a flurry of reactions on social media, with fans and pundits expressing disbelief at the Falcons’ bold move.
Addressing the media post-draft, head coach Raheem Morris defended the decision, emphasizing the importance of securing their future quarterback despite their low draft position.
General Manager Terry Fontenot echoed Morris’s sentiments, underscoring the team’s strategic focus on long-term planning by drafting Penix, a promising rookie hailing from the University of Washington.
In a significant financial commitment, the Falcons had signed Cousins to a lucrative four-year, $180 million deal in May, with a staggering $100 million guaranteed. Cousins, a seasoned quarterback drafted in 2012 by Washington, had spent six seasons with the team before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2018.
The Falcons’ move to draft Penix mirrors past instances in the NFL where veteran quarterbacks found themselves in uncomfortable positions, sharing the spotlight with emerging talents poised to take over.
Notable examples include Aaron Rodgers, who bided his time behind Brett Favre in Green Bay before assuming the starting role, and Joe Flacco, who saw his tenure with the Ravens challenged by the emergence of Lamar Jackson, ultimately leading to a changing of the guard.
