Following some initial tension caused by the Atlanta Falcons’ decision to select quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, everyone is seemingly on the same page.
Before the waters turned too choppy, Kirk Cousins commented on the issue Friday, revealing that the ex-Washington star had reached out personally.
“We had a very good conversation,” Cousins told Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “I’m going to keep it just between me and him right now, but it was a good conversation. I’m super excited to work with him.”
When the Falcons chose Penix No. 8 overall Thursday night in Detroit, much of the NFL world was baffled. With a four-time Pro Bowler in Cousins locked up with a fresh four-year, $180 million contract, many had difficulty finding the logic in immediately using a first-round pick on a quarterback who turns 24 on May 8.
Initially, Cousins was reportedly “a bit stunned” by the Falcons bringing in Penix, a sentiment shared by tight end Kyle Pitts, who believed the team would choose a defensive player. Although similar to Cousins, Pitts seemed excited to work with the former Washington signal-caller while seeing the potential benefits of having the veteran mentor him.
Unsurprisingly, opinions from outside the Falcons locker room vary. Some believe drafting Penix was a poor use of a top-10 pick, while others see it as a big-brain move.
Despite the outside back-and-forth, Cousins is saying all the right things. But it’s clear that, even though they’ve committed to him for the next four years, the Falcons didn’t consult their new franchise quarterback before picking Penix.
It’s possible that the two sides have cleared the air between then and now. However, what remains uncertain is how Cousins feels about grooming his eventual replacement and how that might impact the growth of their relationship and those throughout the team.
For now, things are still relatively calm. However, once training camp revs up and the season starts, the Falcons’ quarterback situation is bound to be one of the more interesting to watch around the league.