The selection of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons was a shocker as the Falcons had signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract this offseason.
At the introductory press conference on Friday, Penix fielded questions about his communication with Cousins following being drafted.
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According to Penix, he and Cousins talked on Thursday night.
“Yes, he did reach out,” Penix said. “We had a very good conversation. He reached out last night. I’m going to keep it between me and him right now, but it was definitely a good conversation. I’m super excited to work with him. He said he’s the same with me.”
Sentiments were much different immediately following the selection with reports indicating that Cousins was “frustrated” by the draft pick.
“Spoke to Mike McCartney, the agent for Kirk Cousins. He said the only heads up the Falcons gave Cousins about picking Michael Penix was a call while the team was on the clock. He’d just signed a four-year deal for $180 million, the first two of which are fully guaranteed.”
“There’s inherent frustration and confusion from Cousins’ camp, as they didn’t use that pick to help the team in 2024. They instead drafted his eventual replacement before he’s put on a Falcons helmet.”
While Penix Jr. will put on a happy face, you have to imagine that he’s not thrilled about going somewhere where he has virtually no chance of starting in the next four years unless Cousins gets injured.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
