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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Cousins reportedly didn’t know Falcons were drafting a QB with No. 8 pick

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Apr 25, 2024 10:35 PM ET

When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell read Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s name off the Atlanta Falcons’ draft card, lots of jaws hit the floor.

Newly signed Falcons QB Kirk Cousins may have been one of them as the 35-year-old reportedly did not know Atlanta was going to go with a quarterback with the No. 8 pick, according to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah.

“I just reached out to his agent Mike McCartney,” Jeremiah said during the NFL Network draft broadcast. “… He was not given a heads up. Kirk Cousins was not given a heads up on this whole thing,”

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini also confirmed Jeremiah’s report, stating Cousins was stunned by the move.

The Falcons called Kirk Cousins when they were on the clock to let him know.
From what I learned, Cousins understood a QB would be considered but he did not believe his successor would be taken in the first round. I’m told he’s a bit stunned.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 26, 2024

Cousins may not have been the only one surprised by the Penix Jr. selection. Video surfaced moments after the pick of what appears to be Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot explaining his actions to team owner Arthur Blank.

This very much looks like Terry Fontenot trying to explain himself #Falcons #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/1vl7CgIrfV
— Cody Chaffins (@CodyChaffins) April 26, 2024

Why Atlanta drafted Penix Jr. is a bit of mystery given the circumstances. He turns 24 next month and will likely sit on the bench as long as Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180M contract this offseason, is on the roster. If Cousins plays out the entirety of his contract, Penix Jr. wouldn’t start until he was 28.

The Falcons also had several other needs of higher priority than quarterback including edge-rusher, cornerback and defensive tackle, and in taking Penix Jr., they lost out on premium players like Alabama edge-rusher Dallas Turner, Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold, and Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy.

There's inherent frustration and confusion from Cousins' camp, as they didn't use that pick to help the team in 2024. They instead drafted his eventual replacement before he's put on a Falcons helmet.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 26, 2024

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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