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Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings in free agency this offseason to sign with the Atlanta Falcons. Cousins received a big payday, as the Falcons gave him a four-year, $180 million contract, becoming a top-10 highest-paid signal-caller in the NFL.
Less than two months after signing Cousins to a lucrative deal, the Falcons shocked many people by using their first-round pick (No. 8) to select Washington quarterback Micahel Penix Jr.
Appearing on Dianna Russini's podcast "Scoop City" with former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel, Cousins spoke to the two about why he left Minnesota for Atlanta. He also spoke about the Falcons' choice to draft Penix in the first round and revealed that even his wife, Julie Cousins, was confused with the Falcons' choice to do so.
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Cousins was asked:
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"What did Julie say to you? When that happened that night was she like, 'Are you kidding?'"
He replied:
"Yeah, something like that. She was certainly surprised."
(35:12 - 35:20)
It isn't wrong or shocking to see Cousins and his wife confused at the Falcons' choice to select Penix. It is very rare to see a team draft a quarterback in the first round of the draft with a top-10 pick after signing a franchise quarterback that made him a top-10 highest-paid player at his position.
Why the Atlanta Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round after inking Kirk Cousins to a lucrative deal
While it is a little bit of a head-scratcher that the Atlanta Falcons took a quarterback in the first round after landing Kirk Cousins in free agency, there is some logic behind it.
Cousins, who will be 37 at the start of the 2024 season, is only getting older. Cousins is also returning after suffering a mid-season Achilles tear last year, which ended the rest of his season.
Achilles injuries are no joke, no matter the age. The Falcons are preparing for their future and selected a guy in Michael Penix who they believe can pick up the torch once Cousins is ready to pass it.
Penix was one of six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, which is tied for the most first-round QBs taken in the first round.
One can think Penix will become the starter once Kirk Cousins' contract is done, but the NFL is unpredictable and anything can happen.
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