The Atlanta Falcons caused a seismic shock in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday by selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick, a move that caught their veteran quarterback, Kirk Cousins, completely off guard.
Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in free agency, was expected to lead the team as their franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future. However, the Falcons’ decision to draft Penix Jr., a 23-year-old with a stellar college career but a checkered injury history, sent shockwaves through the NFL world and left Cousins reeling.
Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, told the NFL Network that his client was completely unaware of the Falcons’ plans to draft Penix Jr. “It was a big surprise,” McCartney said. “We had no idea this was coming. The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up. Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we heard. It never came up in any conversation.”
Penix Jr., who will turn 24 during his rookie campaign, joins the Falcons after winning the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top player last season. He led FBS schools with 4,903 passing yards and was third with 36 touchdown passes. However, he has a long history of injuries, including two ACL tears and shoulder issues.
Cousins’ contract with the Falcons ties him to the organization for the next two years. Fans were left baffled by the team’s decision to draft Penix Jr., who will be 26 by the time Cousins’ contract expires, as his potential understudy. Many questioned the logic of the move, given Cousins’ experience and recent performance, despite his Achilles injury in 2023.
The Falcons’ general manager, Terry Fontenot, had hinted earlier in the week that the team would be open to drafting a potential franchise quarterback if one was available. However, the decision to select Penix Jr. over more established prospects at the position, such as Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, came as a major surprise to many.
Elsewhere in the first round, Caleb Williams joined the Chicago Bears as the No. 1 overall pick. Six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks, with no defensive players taken in the top ten for the first time in NFL history.
