Falcons GM Breaks Silence On the Draft Pick that 'Stunned' Kirk Cousins
Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot publicly addressed the team's decision to use the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Thursday (April 25) night, a move that reportedly left recently-signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins "stunned."
“When you can add a high-caliber player like [Penix] with his intangibles, those tools — he’s a winner. Very, very excited. You don’t pass up that opportunity,” Fontenot said during his post-draft press conference Thursday night. “Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. We’re very excited about Kirk, we’re very excited about our team. Michael Penix is, we’re talking about the future. The draft is — you look at the future and you look at big picture.
“But we’re very excited about that quarterback room. And again, Kirk is our quarterback, but adding Michael Penix is thinking about the future.”
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that the Falcons called Cousins, 35, prior to selecting Penix, 23, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, just before making the pick, which reportedly left the quarterback "stunned."
"The Falcons called Kirk Cousins when they were on the clock to let him know. From what I learned, Cousins understood a QB would be considered but he did not believe his successor would be taken in the first round. I’m told he’s a bit stunned," Russini wrote on her X account.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said was part of the team's long-term plan, despite its recent investment in Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million last month.
Cousins, who spent the past six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in October, but shared clips of his remarkable recovery earlier in the offseason, after undergoing successful Achilles surgery on November 1. The 35-year-old threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns on 23 of 31 passing prior to exiting the Vikings' October 29 win against the Green Bay Packers due to his season-ending Achilles injury.
Cousins entered Week 3 with the third-most passing yards (2,057) and second-most passing touchdowns (16) among all NFL quarterbacks.
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