NFL insider makes eye-opening Kirk Cousins claim, lays bare Falcons’ $100,000,000 excuse

With four straight losses heading into Week 15's primetime showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders, things aren't looking too good for the Atlanta Falcons. Marquee free agent signing Kirk Cousins has failed to inspire any confidence that the four-year, $180 million deal he signed was the right decision on the part of the franchise.

With a rookie quarterback waiting in the wings, the Falcons face some tough decisions in the weeks ahead when it comes to Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. On FS1's "Speak," NFL insider Jordan Schultz had a lot to report on the state of the team.

"I truly believe the only reason the Falcons haven't gone to Michael Penix Jr. yet is because of the optics," Schultz said on Friday. "The Falcons gave Kirk Cousins $100 million guaranteed. The fact that they still have Kirk Cousins, who has the worst QBR in the red zone – 3.3 the last four weeks; who leads the NFL in picks – 15; fumbles – 12.

"This is a team with really good talent. They have great weaponry."

He also made a startling claim on Cousins, saying:

"I've had players inside that locker room tell me point-blank, Michael Penix Jr. is the best quarterback in this building."

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Kirk Cousins questioning his process amid Falcons' 4-game slide

During a press conference earlier this week, Cousins said he was having some second thoughts over how he approaches the game, given his recent troubles.

“You certainly have a process that's worked and has enabled you to play well, and so you trust it," Cousins said. "I think you'd be foolish, though, to just blindly stick to something even when you know, 'Hey, there's clearly a fundamental we need to improve on here.'

"So it's both, it's not you completely blow up your process, but at the same time you say, 'Hey, clearly there's something here in my decision-making, or my fundamentals, or the way I'm seeing the field, or the way I'm playing the game that it needs to be improved or tweaked, so let's also look at doing that.'"

For his part, Falcons coach Raheem Morris has time and again made it clear that he wasn't considering benching Cousins in favor of Michael Penix. A Monday Night Football loss to the Las Vegas Raiders could change things, but it remains to be seen if Cousins can arrest Atlanta's four-game slide against a team hoping to have a top-three pick in April.