The Atlanta Falcons made waves during the 2024 NFL Draft by choosing University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as the #8 overall pick. This selection gained significant attention because the Falcons had recently inked a substantial four-year, $180 million contract with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, signaling their intent to pursue immediate success.
Reportedly, one of the primary reasons for Cousins’ departure from the Minnesota Vikings was their expressed intention to draft a quarterback for the future, which they ultimately did by selecting J.J. McCarthy with the #10 overall pick.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated highlighted that the Vikings were transparent with the 35-year-old Cousins about their plans to potentially draft a quarterback, even if he remained with the team. This, coupled with the team’s offer to guarantee only part of a second-year contract, led Cousins to believe that he might be traded in 2025 if he stayed.
Despite the Falcons’ assurance that Penix Jr. is a pick geared towards the future and their commitment to Cousins as the starting quarterback, Cousins has guaranteed money in his contract for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. However, the selection of Penix Jr. could still be viewed as counterproductive for a team seemingly focused on winning a Super Bowl in the current season, as adding a Top 10 draft pick who could contribute immediately would have been a significant asset.
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