"This is not the Packer way": Ex-Green Bay VP explains the difference between Cousins-Penix Jr. and Rodgers-Love succession

A former Green Bay Packers vice president doesn't agree with the Atlanta Falcons comparison to the Packers after they selected Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.

The Falcons went out and signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, with $100 million guaranteed.

Given that Atlanta signed Cousins, it was surprising they drafted Penix at eighth overall. But coach Raheem Morris referenced the Green Bay model, which is why the Falcons selected Penix with their first-round pick.

"The Green Bay model was something that we talked about," Morris said, via NFL.com. "It's been proven to be right, last year. Hopefully, we'll be right with them."

Of course, Green Bay selected Jordan Love in the first round to learn from Aaron Rodgers, and after a couple of seasons, he eventually took over as the starting quarterback.

However, former Packers vice president Andrew Brandt disagreed with that assessment and said what Atlanta did was not the Green Bay way at all.

"This is not the Packer way at all," Brandt said on the 'Ross Tucker Podcast.' "Love and Rodgers were drafted in the 20s late in the first round. Penix No. 8. Favre and Rodgers, when their understudies were drafted, had been on the Packers for 17 years. Kirk Cousins has been on the Falcons for a minute, he’s never played a snap for the Falcons.

"This is not the Packer way. I think about what Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers have said about this situation.

"I managed this for two years with Brett. Which is Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins is going into work every day, into that QB room, and sitting right next to his replacement. Brett Favre’s agent called me all the time, ‘Andrew you know what it’s like to walk into work every day and sit next to your replacement?’ I’m sure Aaron felt that with Jordan.

"Now Kirk’s gotta deal with that for two years before he’s shipped out."

Brandt makes an interesting point, but the way Cousins' contract is structured, the team can get out of his deal after two seasons.

Kirk Cousins stunned by Falcons picking Michael Penix Jr.

While the Atlanta Falcons were on the clock at eighth overall, the team called Kirk Cousins to inform him they were selecting Penix.

Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, confirmed that was the case and said his client was surprised by the decision.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that Cousins understood Atlanta could draft a quarterback to develop behind Cousins, but he was shocked that the team used a first-round pick on him.

Regardless, Cousins will be the Falcons starting quarterback entering the 2024 NFL season.