Last March, the Falcons’ decision to sign Kirk Cousins seemed to put to rest questions about their plans at the quarterback spot over the intermediate future. The following month, however, Atlanta selected Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the draft. 
It was reported in the immediate aftermath of that move Cousins was caught off guard by the Penix selection. Differing from the Vikings, the Falcons guaranteed the first two years of the 36-year-old’s contract, a key factor in his decision to leave Minnesota after six years there. In the end, both teams made Day 1 investments under center, with the Vikings selecting J.J. McCarthy two spots after Penix. Both are positioned to operate as starters in 2025.
Cousins initially declined to offer a firm answer when asked last year if knowing about the eventual Penix selection would have altered his approach to free agency. The four-time Pro Bowler is one of three signal-callers showcased in the 2025 edition of Netflix’s Quarterback documentary series, however. That has allowed Cousins to reflect on how things played out last spring, and his latest remarks on the situation make it clear he would have likely handled things differently had he known a first-round QB was in the Falcons’ plans.
“It felt like I had been a little bit misled or certainly if I had had the information around free agency, it would have affected my decision,” Cousins said (via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall) when speaking about the Penix selection. “I had no reason to leave Minnesota, as much as we loved it there, if both teams were drafting a quarterback high.”
The Vikings were willing to retain Cousins for 2025, but the team preferred to take a year-to-year approach knowing they were in position to draft his successor. Sam Darnold signed a one-year deal and enjoyed a productive campaign in Minnesota before departing in free agency this March. That leaves McCarthy – who was sidelined for his entire rookie campaign due to meniscus surgery – in position to handle QB1 duties this season and beyond.
Coming off an Achilles tear, Cousins worked as Atlanta’s starter through the beginning of the 2024 campaign. While battling shoulder and ankle injuries, his play took a turn for the worse until Penix was inserted into the lineup. The 25-year-old enters the coming season atop the Falcons’ depth chart, but an offseason filled with speculation about a Cousins trade or release has ultimately not resulted in a parting of ways.
Cousins is in a better spot health-wise than he was at the time of his benching, but without any starting gigs available at this point he is in line to remain in Atlanta. An injury during training camp could change the situation, but for now the Falcons are set to retain him as a backup (as they professed a willingness for all spring) carrying a $40MM cap hit. That situation is of course partly by choice on Cousins’ part after he elected not to waive his no-trade clause prior to the draft to avoid a repeat of last year’s situation.
Cousins is owed a $27.5MM base salary this season, and a $10MM roster bonus for next year has already vested. That financial barrier prevented a trade from taking place over the past few months and it will remain challenging for interested teams to swing a deal if Atlanta declines to retain any money. As a result, Cousins is destined to remain with the Falcons for at least one more year before a parting of ways becomes feasible and the opportunity will present itself to move past this chapter of his career.
Prediction: McCarthy flops, Minnesota makes a trade mid season for Kirk
And if that doesn’t work they start making inquiries about Fran Tarkenton’s availability?
Alternative prediction: Penix gets hurt and Cousins takes ATL to the playoffs.
Contract was abysmal before the ink dried for Atlanta
1. The contract Cousins signed was a surprise to me.
2. Drafting Penix was a bigger surprise.
^^^^THIS^^^^
shows how much falcons liked penix .. but never thought he’d fall to them .. no-brainer to draft him when he did .. looked even better when cousin’s struggled
Alot of people can’t put that together. We didn’t know we would have Penix at 8. Raiders and other teams could have easily moved up for him
No one was taking Penix higher than 8. But the Falcons didn’t know they liked Penix until his pro day on March 28, 2024. Which was about 2 weeks after they signed Cousins. Their leadership is totally inept.
Hindsight is 20/20. Remember when all the mock drafts had 5 QBs going first round in 2022 but only Pickett went? There was talks Seahawks and Vegas wanted a QB. People need to get over themselves. We didn’t know we would get him why else sign Kirk to what they did?
In hindsight drafting Penix was a great move. ATL fans have a solid QB room. Many teams would love to have Penix/Cousins on the roster.
This sentiment kills me. No one knows how that would’ve shaken out. If they didn’t sign Kirk it most likely would’ve telegraphed the Falcons were going QB and the draft may have been way different….The moves were dumbfounded I’ll admit, but now they have 2 capable QBs.
Facts
I personally think the Falcons screwed up the Raiders draft plans more than any other team. Getting Bowers wasn’t a bad consolation however lol
I agree. I think raiders wanted Penix but bowers turned out great lol
$100 million for Cousins is one hell of a smokescreen. I don’t know why other teams don’t do that!
The Falcons were trying to emulate what the packers have done with their QB’s Rodgers and Love. They draft pennix and stuff him on the bench for 2-3 years while cousins starts but it didn’t turn out they way because cousins wasn’t very good last year
I think it’s a fairly sound approach although there are no guarantees that it can always work. If you’re an aging player you should never be “surprised” that the team is willing to consider younger options. The NFL is a “what have you done for us lately?” league…everyone is expendable if they stop producing at an expected level.
Not true. Cousins played well up until his injury in week 10. I think they were 6-4 and still in a the playoff race.
4th and 8
I completely understand wanting to compete and all… but there are bigger tragedies in the world than being paid tens of millions of dollars to hold a clipboard…
True
Hindsight is always 20/20 bro.
Let Cousins sit on the bench for Atlanta. He should honor his contract. Had he not played so poorly, he would probably be the Falcons starter still…..he certainly won’t find a starting job elsewhere….
He *is* honoring his contract. Some people act like the guy is holding out. He’s been a gentleman about his situation and will be a good resource for Penix.
Is he helping saying this in the media before the season starts?
I don’t think he is. Plus there was nothing really said by him or the Falcons about his shoulder injury which led to interceptions and losses. Cry me a River and hold the clipboard.
These quotes are from a documentary series, and he’s answering a question. He’s not throwing this out unsolicited; the man is part of a TV show and answered a question.
Leave it to Raheem Morris head coach, he’s head nothing. That’s the problem with Atlanta , Raheem Morris couldn’t coach LASSIE TO BARK,ATL. WONTWIN NOTHING TILL THEY GIVE RAHEEM MORRIS A ONE WAY TICKET TO ANYWHEREHEWANTS .. See ya Raheem.
Raheem Morris couldn’t lead frat boys to a keg party.