Falcons' Raheem Morris discusses Michael Penix Jr., Kirk Cousins situation

First-year Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris once again defended the club's decision to make quarterback Michael Penix Jr. the eighth pick of the 2024 NFL Draft after Atlanta signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M guaranteed.

"You evaluate all the positions, and you’re sitting there at [pick No. 8], and the guy you got very high on your board is staring at you," Morris told The Athletic's Robert Mays. "With a chance to pick them. A guy that you believe in. A guy that’s got a lot of similar traits to the guy that you’re going to know will lead you this year and do the things that he’s done. Guy that has a cannon of an arm. A processor. Humble. Fits your ethos. Does everything the right way. A guy that you can bring in here and sit behind a guy for a couple of years, no matter how long it takes. And say, here’s our heir apparent."

NFL analysts and insiders remain perplexed by the Penix pick considering the signing of Cousins in March was viewed as a win-now move for a franchise that finished the 2023 season at 7-10 when it featured Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke at quarterback. As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Falcons as the betting favorites at -115 odds to win the NFC South title in 2024.

"Kirk gives us a chance to win a championship," Morris told Mays. "Let’s not even put it any other way. When you talk about winning this division, once you get in, anything can happen."

On Monday, Kevin Patra of the NFL's website mentioned that the Falcons could still use a pass-rusher after Atlanta allowed defensive end Laiatu Latu to fall in the first round of this year's draft. Morris noted that the Falcons graded Penix "very high" regardless of who was available on the night of April 25.

"You get the best evaluators in the house, in the world, to do it," Morris added. "Let’s believe it. Stick with our guns and go with it. We get to the pick, and he’s there. Pull the trigger."

Pulling that trigger made for quite an awkward situation as Cousins works to recover from the torn Achilles he suffered in late October 2023. Unless Atlanta wins Super Bowl LIX, members of the 2024 Falcons will be left wondering what could have been had the club spent the draft's eighth pick on a day-one starter.