Atlanta Falcons waste assets with Penix Jr. pick, Cousins contract | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC

PFT revisits the Atlanta Falcons' shocking decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. and how it reflects the organization’s mismanagement of assets in an era when they’re "at a premium." #NBCSports #NFL #atlantafalcons
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Atlanta Falcons waste assets with Penix Jr. pick, Cousins contract | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC
/ nflonnbc

[@pw_jc]

The owner should hire the future GM and coach to shadow the current ones.

[@chrislearnskorean2721]

Now there is an idea 😂

[@M98747]

😂 This is an amazing comment. Bravo.

[@styner3]

Imagine Blanks press conference announcing his backup GM 😂

[@jimrunsfar]

Brilliant!

[@TerryKinder]

Classic

[@brianbuckley4770]

Brilliant choice. Quality player, quality person. Atlanta is lucky to have him.

[@jaedynstjuste1708]

The Falcons liked Penix 45 days ago and has him as QB1 on their board considering the Top 3 guys were gonna be drafted before pick #8. Coulda saved that $100 million and build up the defense.

[@JUANsoloATL]

Or they can get a top 10 QB at the GOING RATE, and get the 3rd best arm talent for the future... Oh wait they did

[@MumRah]

​@@JUANsoloATLwon't matter if they can't stop anyone. They couldn't even do that against 3rd string QBs and guys that were on their team for 4 days 😂

[@RealdealkhalilYT]

People act like a edge guy taken at 15 is what was needed to win the Super Bowl 😂

[@ajpierre]

@@MumRah So which defender was there that has a higher upside than a franchise QB?

[@MumRah]

@RealdealkhalilYT people acting like sitting a guy for 4 years is what it takes to win a SB

[@borbafatt]

I love how everybody is commenting that the falcons have to have cousins for four years. They literally don’t. After his second year, they would save 32.8 million in cap space by cutting or trading him. Two years on the bench will have penix well prepared to step into the starter role. It’s not as bad as everybody thinks it is. This might be the only shot to have a franchise quarterback. They won’t be drafting in the top 10 as long as they have cousins so it was now or never.

[@jeremytaft8247]

Hopefully!

[@user-zq9ml6ot8u]

I love it. In MN they intentionally never had anyone that would remotely challenge Kirk for QB1. Kirk can't handle pressure.

[@disposeablehero757]

Lol signed manion just to keep kirk happy

[@123shoshan]

Ad Mitchell is better than worthy

[@averygreen2244]

@@123shoshanso random but I agree I was shocked he fell so far

[@historybuff1483]

Kellen Mond was a 2nd rounder. L.

[@mikez4073]

@@historybuff1483Mond was drafted in the 3rd round. He played in the preseason like he was a 6th rounder. Previous GM like to draft QB’s 3 rounds too early.

[@romain8390]

I don’t think it’s hard to understand why they made this move. It’s pretty dámn smart actually. They legitimately tricked Kirk into thinking he was the franchise guy by writing it on paper with a large contract, but showed to everyone their real franchise QB is Penix. The big money contract to Cousins is irrelevant to their draft process because they can get out of it after two years with him being $18 million against the cap in dead money on average for 2026 and 2027, and if Penix works out, his big money deal won’t start until 2029. It wasn’t a pick for right now, it was a pick for the future. The team around them is solid right now, 11th in total defense a year ago, 8th against the pass, with an incoming defensive coach who should improve the defense. They used their next four picks on defense after the Penix pick, so fans who were clammering for a defense got a haul of players. I’m not sure what Atlanta fans were thinking by being so desperate for a defensive end. That’s not gonna help them compete with San Francisco, Detroit, Dallas, or Philly. They can address that need next year or in free agency. But they’re not winning the Super Bowl this year.. The move makes perfect sense to me.

[@jtfike]

Did they legalize marijuana in Atlanta? Because you are definitely taking advantage of it. The falcons aren’t good now. They missed the playoffs completely in an extremely soft NFC. Yes, they got a qb. You use the draft to fill the other gaps. Get your next qb later when this qb is no longer available.

[@romain8390]

@@jtfike that’s literally what they did, dingus. The next four picks they had were spent on the defensive side of the ball, including a pass rusher. In a draft or pass, rushers, were not at a premium the way they have been in previous years. And if they really want a star pass, rusher, or to be more effective on defense, they can address that in free agency next year. But they are not one defensive player away from being competitive. I’m guessing crack must be legal where you are. And you’re definitely taking advantage of it Additionally, it’s been proven in the NFL. When you don’t have a succession plan at quarterback, the franchise tends to suffer. I pretty much dùmbed down what I had to say about it so folks like you could understand, but apparently that’s still too much.

[@romain8390]

@@jtfike I’m not even an Atlanta fan, I just made sense of what they did from their perspective, and I know that they’re not close to the upper echelon of the conference. But historically speaking, the guys who do hit as franchise tend to be taken in the top 10, and the success rate increases when you have a good surrounding cast of weapons, and you give the quarterback time to develop, both of which Michael Penix has

[@TheZebulonPike]

"Tricking" your old ass injured QB by paying him 180 million. Brilliant. Giving up a top-10 pick for another gimped asset while pissing off your current gimped QB. Genius

[@romain8390]

@@TheZebulonPike Hey casual! You really think he gonna see every penny of that $180million? You know how quickly they can get rid of him with a minimal cap hit? You must’ve just started watching football, or you casual😂😂 Oh boohoo wittle kirk cousin mad?? Sad 😔 bro he can wipe his tears with $100 minuscule amount of the 400mil the mediocre QB has gotten over his career for just one playoff win. If he’s mad, why u about his feelings? What is he gonna do? throw games? End his own NFL career out of spite? That’ll get him booted out of Atlanta even quicker with less money in his pocket. He can shut up and play football. Pay attention, casual, Penix hasn’t been injured since 2021, and passed all medical examinations for his long-term health. He will be fine. Atlanta and the league all knew he projected well… That’s why multiple teams were trying to trade up with Atlanta to get him, per multiple reports from multiple reporters.

[@michaelstave658]

Gonna be hilarious if Penix just all out wins the job in training camp.

[@samright4661]

You think Atl will pay Kirk 100 million dollars to sit on the bench? You’re crazy AF

[@lenrad]

No, it’s not because that means Atlanta wasted 180mil on Kirk cousins when they just could’ve kept their money and drafted Penix from the jump

[@michaelstave658]

@@samright4661 did you notice I said if not when?

[@samright4661]

@@michaelstave658 Atl won’t pay Kirk that much money to sit! Penix is injury prone

[@samright4661]

@@lenrad Penix won’t start for at least 2 years!

[@jaedynstjuste1708]

Hearing the Coach & GM speak makes me think Arthur Blank wanted Kirk but Coach/GM had the reactions we all did: 35, coming off an Achilles, 1 playoff win, can’t win games that kickoff at 12pm. So they made the decision to just draft the replacement right now.

[@GerryHutchings]

Ask Green Bay does it make since

[@ajpierre]

THANK YOU!!! Its not hard to understand,

[@carlolson2121]

Lol Kirk is going to slay. What a waste of a draft pick.

[@jaedynstjuste1708]

@@carlolson2121 slay????

[@jaedynstjuste1708]

@@GerryHutchings 2 different situations. Aaron Rodgers is fuckin HOF who they disrespected by not drafting him help but instead his replacement. Atlanta has no emotional attachment to Kirk which means her literally only has this season to prove himself and it probably won’t even last the whole season because a 2-4 or 3-5 start will make Penix QB1

[@user-fp8xe5ms2i]

Does Simms even remember the draft? He was hammered!!

[@stephenb.5304]

Looks like he is still paying the price!

[@tswig]

😂😂😂😂yes he was

[@Sasha-vb3mh]

Lol was he ?? 😂

[@RandyPeterson17]

@@Sasha-vb3mh he was high af. hes a heavy cannabis user

[@hawaiiguykailua6928]

Woke up near the lounge chairs next to dog pooh😂

[@joer1678]

Time will tell regarding Atlanta. They aren’t going to win anything with Cousins other than regular season games. They won’t be drafting this high again. In two years they move to Penix. If he becomes a franchise qb it will work out.

[@JoeFindlayBada]

A sensible opinion has been found

[@cristiangarcia-wm2kd]

Then you waste 2 years of a cheap rookie QB contract and then have dead money left over from Cousin's contract. Not to mention all the money going to Cousins could have spent on other free agents to help Penix. Should have just paid a cheap bridge QB if there was any thought you might draft a rookie QB.

[@joer1678]

@@cristiangarcia-wm2kd you don’t mentor your potential future franchise qb with a bridge qb. Cousins is a quality starter for a long time. I think Atlanta is trying to follow the Packer model of developing QBs that has been very successful.

[@jjjamez8229]

​@@joer1678whole new coaching staff , u go get a quarterback that can win now so 3 years later you still have a job, while getting a qb that they ACTUALLY SEE as there future , I believe they made a great pick

[@joer1678]

@jjjamez8229 I don't disagree. As a Packer fan it has worked out for the Packers a couple of times

[@jimstevenson424]

Blank made the call. He cleaned the staff out, reduced McKay's role. He's getting old and getting impatient. Why have an inexperienced GM and HC just happy to be there? Because they'll do what you tell them. Belichick wouldn't.

[@BSideRapReviews]

100M guaranteed + a 1st round pick isn’t a lot of assets to invest in a QB room (non guaranteed money is essentially just a team option). For comparison… Cleveland invested 230M guaranteed + 6 picks including 3 1sts for Watson. Broncos invested $185M guaranteed + 6 picks including 2 1sts for Wilson Rams invested $130M guaranteed + 2 1sts and a 3rd round pick for Stafford Saints invested 100M guaranteed for Derek Carr.

[@cristiangarcia-wm2kd]

Yeah and how is that working out for those teams? The only one that made sense were the Rams because they had a loaded team already. The other 3 teams are deeply regretting it. Atlanta will also be regretting signing Cousins to that contract.

[@jimringomartin]

And how does the Jets Rodgers debacle fit in thus messy recipe?

[@marcvanherr4683]

You list these examples as though Atlanta didn't just do something equally stupid.

[@BSideRapReviews]

@@cristiangarcia-wm2kd That’s kinda my point…falcons invested far less resources, but have much better backup plan than the teams I listed

[@BSideRapReviews]

@@marcvanherr4683 So you’re arguing that $100M and a 1 pick for Cousins and Penix is no better than $230M and 6 picks for a rapist… …okay buddy

[@BamBamSam12]

This is a great example of why some franchises are successful consistently, and others are bad consistently.

[@123shoshan]

Adonai Mitchell is better than worthy

[@romain8390]

I don’t think it’s hard to understand why they made this move. It’s pretty dámn smart actually. They legitimately tricked Kirk into thinking he was the franchise guy by writing it on paper with a large contract, but showed to everyone their real franchise QB is Penix. The big money contract to Cousins is irrelevant to their draft process because they can get out of it after two years with him being $18 million against the cap in dead money on average for 2026 and 2027, and if Penix works out, his big money deal won’t start until 2029. It wasn’t a pick for right now, it was a pick for the future. The team around them is solid right now, 11th in total defense a year ago, 8th against the pass, with an incoming defensive coach who should improve the defense. They used their next four picks on defense after the Penix pick, so fans who were clammering for a defense got a haul of players. I’m not sure what Atlanta fans were thinking by being so desperate for a defensive end. That’s not gonna help them compete with San Francisco, Detroit, Dallas, or Philly. They can address that need next year or in free agency. But they’re not winning the Super Bowl this year.. The move makes perfect sense to me

[@leonardomoore1868]

@romain8390 thank u my friend!Also let's nit forget this clown was saying the same thing when Green Bay drafted Love and now those same people are kissing his ass and acting like they knew Live would be great. I thought these analyst always preached sitting fir atleast 1 to 2 yrs? Hypocrite at its.

[@herrguru4264]

*BREAKING NEWS:* 1. Cousin Kirk, a Quarterback who pretends to work on Mondays, and doesnt work on Tuesdays and his silly fans, are upset that Michael Penix Jr. (the most talented college Quarterback since Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams & Deshaun Watson), a Quarterback who works from Sunday till Sunday got drafted. 😅🤣😂 2. Jeebus Forking Cripes... the Michael Penix Jr. whinging is getting on my nerves. The mistake wasnt drafting Michael Penix. The mistake was signing Kirk Cousins for $100M. Dude has earned more than Tom Brady, but only has 1 playoff win. 3. People are pretending as if Falcons drafting Laiatu Latu or Dallas Turner would have been the piece for Kirk Cousins to take the Falcons to the Superbowl. Kirk Cousins could have JJ Watt and Nick Bosa and he still wouldnt go to the Superbowl. 4. 14 starting QBs got injured in 2023. Therefore you might as well take a very good QB in the 1st round and a good Defensive End in the 2nd round and thats exactly what Atlanta did.

[@romain8390]

@@herrguru4264 good analysis. The only good thing about signing Cousins to that $100 million deal, is that they were able to trick both Kirk and the rest of the league in to thinking that they were not going to take a quarterback. I am very high on Michael Penix Junior after watching every throw he made in 2023. He’s going to be excellent for them after they get rid of Kirk

[@Dave-nm8uf]

Falcons fans please make sure you keep these receipts. A lot of the experts will all of a sudden develop amnesia or move the goal post.

[@respli8240]

Yup, it's not a bad pick, it worked in Greenway why couldn't it here

[@user-mp6dl7wc9z]

You either wasted 100 million dollars/rookie QB contract OR you wasted your 1st round pick. You need to pick a lane. Trying to WIN now and trying to WIN later means you won't win now OR win later. This the DUMBEST WASTE OF RESOURCES IN NFL HISTORY!!! Even their draft was a DEVELOPMENTAL DRAFT. This is NOT like a GB move or a KC move or a SD move BECAUSE NONE OF THOSE teams just signed a vet QB to 100 million guaranteed dollar deal.

[@dadbodmakeover8077]

As a Bucs fan, I love it that these guys are with the Falcons…

[@itannoysme3348]

With Brady gone, Bucs will stay basically irrelevant for another couple of decades.

[@kidevans1399]

@@itannoysme3348Literally just won a playoff game this past season but okay boomer

[@wandameadows5736]

There's a reason never in NFL History has any NFL Team paid a huge contract to a free agent QB & then use their 1st round pick on a QB. It's a dumb move & the only guaranteed Winner for the next 5-6 years is whoever had this idea because you cant even grade the pick on performance until Penix has had a couple years under his belt & it will be 2029 by that time. So whoever had this idea is safe for 4-5 years but if this turns out bad they will be ever remembered for this choice. I'm a 35 Year Falcons Fan & I have no idea why anyone in Atlanta is hyped about a 1st Round draft pick they won't even see for 3-4 years. All I can say is no one that's in charge in Atlanta right now has given me any reason to have faith in them. Trust is earned & what's been going on the past 3 years in Atlanta gives me no belief that the next 5 will be any different. I like the Cousins move but rejecting an all time great coach & then not addressing an immediate need in the 1st Round tells me the Falcons Brass will find a way to fail.

[@diggitydog412]

if the Falcons didn't think they were close to being a contender.....they should have NEVER signed an aging veteran QB for that much money. They HAD to know they would have a shot at a QB at pick #8......they should have used the money they gave Cousins to sign free agents to supplement the rest of the team as they ushered in a new franchise QB with pick #8. Sign a veteran to get them thru this season if they didn't feel comfortable putting a rookie out there from day 1. But to sign Cousins and then draft Penix makes no sense. You know this will lead to a QB controversy at some point and that is never a good thing. Could divide the locker room as well. Penix will be the QB by 2025 and they will have to take the salary cap hit from Cousins and it will keep them from being a contender for a few more seasons. One of the great things about having a QB on a rookie deal is that it gives the team so much more money to spread to other positions. They can take the $40 mil (QB salary) and build up the offensive line or the defense while paying the new QB nearly nothing. But the Falcons in essence are paying the QB over $40 mil a year regardless of who is under center.

[@sputnikalgrim]

Honestly I never understood why Atlanta even signed Kirk. For me Penix isn’t the problem, the problem is you gave an old guy coming off a major injury a 4 year 180 mil contract with 100 mil guaranteed. If they don’t sign Cousins and they draft Penix everyone is excited. Even if Kirk was healthy he’s never proven himself to be elite. If you’re an Atlanta fan you really should be mad about Kirk

[@larrylindgren9484]

I've said that. Kirk is not the answer unless the question is why did Atlanta lose that playoff game, it was Kirk playing terrible. He's always been a loser who puts up empty stats. The second the lights are bright he's sucks. Been that way his whole career why would Atlanta think it's changing now. A total waste of money signing the guy. Let's him kill someone else's cap. It wouldn't be for me.

[@jon9583]

I get that Kirk's feelings might be hurt but as these two said, he is old, has a knee injury, has never won any high stakes game and talent level is middling at best. My guess is he plays in Atlanta for 2 years and Penix starts in 2026 if not sooner due to injury or performance decline. We structured Kirk's contract to say as much, its really a two year with a cap hit if we jump ship year 3 and not paying Penix negates that hit. We will have Penix starting for 3 years on a rookie contract and can build towards it over the next two years to give him a 5-10 year chance at a title. All we did is solidify the most important position and create competition in a room that was empty the last 3 years. Lastly, maybe we didn't think anyone in the 1st defensively was worth the pick either or even had Penix as worth a 3rd pick and felt 8th was a great value?

[@GreyMarano]

It’s his Achilles not knee but yes on all the rest ! SKOL, thank you Atlanta for paying Cousins and not drafting JJ!!

[@regismonkton]

I disagree with Mike and Chris on this one. ATL having drafted Penix was strategically correct. Cousins is a skilled QB and now he can't afford to become complacent. ATL put him under the kind of pressure which might result in Cousins playing on his highest level. He was saying that he got a lot of money during his career, but he wants to win a Super Bowl. ATL is showing they are now actually a competitor. A team with two QB1s can fulfill high expectations. Also, ATL did make sure to draft some defensive players too.

[@Beginyesterday]

This is the dumbest take…of all the bad takes. I’m floored at how dumb it is. KC just got paid 100mil guaranteed. How he may react with a young good player in the locker room is crazy. He is an adult and a professional. They talk about it like they are in high school.

[@sweetnessdabutta9985]

I think everyone assumes they wanted to draft him at 8 when they didn't. They wanted to draft him late in the early 2nd round. Meaning trade down draft a DE then trade back up and draft Penix that was the plan. Nobody thought the market for Penix was going to take off like that. Nobody did or planned on it. Because of his injury history and thwy didn't think he was mobile enough. Then he threw at the combine.snd everybody said ohh damn." Then his medicals turned out to be all Green, meaning he was super good. Everybody said ohh damn again." Then he ran at his pro day and ran a 4.5 4.6 40 and had a 32-inch vertical, and folks said here we go. All of a sudden, his stock went threw the damn roof. Everybody wanted a private workout. You can't deny talent. Man, Penix is the only QB since Mahones at TexTech to throw back to back seasons of 45k passing yards. The man led his team to a National Title game. It is what it is. 4 damn teams called the Falcons trying to trade up to get Penix....All of that, we we're going to trade back up to get him in the late first early 2nd round, thought went right out the window. Nobody thought that many QBs were going that early in the 1st nobody! So lets cut the crap. They Signed Cousins thinking that Penix woukd be available late 1st early second. They had to change plans and draft him at 8. That's how it goes sometimes. The Falcons are the talk of sports right now....good bad or indifferent....publicity is publicity 😂 if nobody is talking about you. it's cause you are not making waves. The Falcons are making Big Waves....and they got the best thrower in the draft. Like it or not, he's one of the better young QBs in the League now. And he's a Damn Dirty Bird.

[@itannoysme3348]

Good post, and true. Penix may start much sooner than they think.

[@jtfike]

Everybody knew there would be a run on qbs. Just use the 90s technology called “google” and look at mock drafts. You made a horrible assertion and then emphasized it multiple times. Everyone knew the qbs were gonna go. There is no excuse. They should have allowed those teams trade up, get more picks and draft for now.

[@sweetnessdabutta9985]

@jtfike ignorance is bliss, my friend. If you think NFL GMs who make between 1mill and 7Mill a yr use Google and mock drafts for information during drafts. My god, man, smh 😆 🤣 😂

[@georgeway2092]

well spoken and thought out ... ( i remember when they were howling in philadelphia about drafting mr hurts ... how did that turn out ... )

[@davidroe5157]

Love the pick

[@ExusPlays]

This is not Favre/Rodgers/Love at all, this is a 24 year old rookie with a bad injury history and Cousins has guaranteed big money... this was just dumb.

[@ajpierre]

What is the median age of most SB winning QBs? It's in the 30s. No one is gonna care that he didnt play until he was 27/28 if he wins a SB or two. The age thing is laughable

[@distortedsoul27]

@@ajpierre The rookie contract thing isn't, however. Like in other posts, you've shown your lack of knowledge. Cousins' contract hasn't even started and it's $180 for 4 years, with $100 million guaranteed. They can get out after two years, but it'll be $25 million on the dead cap for the third year, and around $12 for the final year. All this money could've been spent on free agent and roster re-signings to fill needed spots throughout those 4 years. If Penix doesn't play until he's 27/28, that means he's on his fourth year of the rookie deal. So, the Falcons are literally wasting away his rookie contract if that's the case, and Penix has one year to prove he's worth it or they won't pick up his fifth year option. If that happens, the Falcons are starting from scratch... again. Fontenot and Morris are hoping that Cousins doesn't pan out, then it'll make them look like geniuses with this pick.

[@JN-ye8qo]

The falcons didnt want to start a rookie. Smart move to sit him behind a top 10 QB for a few years. They said weeks ago they were going to draft a QB. Just because you dont like their plan doesnt mean they didnt have one.

[@kaptainkush4351]

Odds are when you make a decision that has 99.9% of the people scratching their heads, you probably didn't outsmart everyone but rather you fuc*ed up big time considering the time, money and resources that the teams, league, media, etc. put into analyzing everything about the draft. If anyone thought that ATL taking a QB in the first round was a good idea in the slightest, then there would have been rumors, and mock drafts but there weren't because no one including the other 31 teams thought ATL was drafting Penix at #8 until Thursday when there was a few rumbles before the draft but no one took it seriously because it made no sense!

[@JN-ye8qo]

@@kaptainkush4351 99% of the league thought drafting mahomes that high when you already had your QB under contract was a head scratcher. I feel bad for you if you live your life making the decisions everybody else likes. 😬

[@kaptainkush4351]

@@JN-ye8qo Alex Smith only had 1 yr left on his deal, they didn't just sign him to a multi year deal 6 weeks before they drafted Mahomes and most of the league just thought drafting Mahomes that high was the head scratcher.

[@SGBassplayer]

This is the best take. The Falcons basically outsmarted themselves. At the prompting of NO ONE. At least both players in the equation are getting paid. Only the fans are left wondering what the hell their team is doing.

[@chard2534]

What about the Trey Lance Pick, and ALL the other top 5 QB draft busts? Why is this getting more outrage than all of those? Where's the outrage for those wastes of assets?

[@Conseption]

The Owner instantly regretted passing on Bill.

[@rainkid8807]

The owner wanted Michael Penix

[@biggrizzly2161]

FOH bill is literally fina die and somehow still doesn't have a job🤔

[@user-gl5gx1lv4x]

The Falcon think they wont be picking that high again so they grabbed a QB. They are wrong and this was a complete waste of a draft pick.

[@jemazondo9331]

If Kirk gets hurt again they're screwed! All their weapons useless.

[@tannerross-barco8238]

I think you got 2 QBs who are pissed. You think Pennix wants to hear that he may sit for 4 years? What is his bargaining value for his next contract if he doesn't see the field.

[@dannygrant639]

Little to non, so Falcons can keep him for dirt cheap. “Why can’t I get a higher paying contract?” responded “Because you didn’t play a single snap, 😂, by the way we’re gonna sign your replacement in the 2028 draft.”

[@MumRah]

If this works out the way the dead brain trust wants they might get 1 year on his rookie deal before having to pay him a ton for not much sample to judge him on

[@ajpierre]

4 years??? Somone is making up stuff. Cousins is playing 2 years MAX, I personally think penix beats him out next year.

[@tannerross-barco8238]

​@ajpierre the GM own words is 4 or 5 years. Though I do agree I think he will compete and get on the field sooner.

[@MumRah]

@ajpierre nothing says smart more like paying $50mil to sit behind a rookie 😂

[@chino7287]

Atlanta's GM & coach think they're smarter than everyone else in the room. If Penix was/is the answer, then just draft him at #8 without signing Cousins! If anything, it's shady as hell if this was their plan but didn't include Cousins on it. No way Cousins signs with them if he knew they were selecting Penix at #8. Dirty Birds indeed. 🗑

[@jemazondo9331]

Cousins can't cry about anything. He's old and injured. He's gonna get offended by them acquiring a good backup? That's how he got his chance remember? He took advantage when rg3 got hurt

[@christopherhallmon8595]

They signed Cousins when they had spot prior to the draft. Signing a real deal QB in Penix was brilliant pick! Everyone is talking about the money? Is it yours or the billionaire who owns the team! Cousins is not leading you to the promised land! Has he ever performed to that level, never! Stop complaining and appreciate the GREAT pick or is Cousins your hope? Wrong to bet on him! Is there any player in the 8th spot that could really get you there? Weren’t solid picks available in subsequent rounds to fill team needs? Watch the film study of the diamond you just got!

[@josephlavigne1495]

The title is absurd....... Michael was the best player in every game that he played in last year..... Including against USC and Oregon.......

[@dannyquilter8366]

No, the title is spot on. They absolutely wasted their assets. They wasted 100 million and wasted a first round pick. Are you somehow not aware of what's happening

[@ReadyFreddy1011]

They wasted assets with the cousins contract, not drafting pennix jr. 🤫

[@wpl8275]

What could go wrong with paying huge bucks to a 36 year old QB coming off of a serious season ending injury and then drafting high a 24 year old QB who had two season ending injuries.

[@warrenmason1582]

No he had 4 season ending injuries. He tore his acl on the same leg twice though.

[@distortedsoul27]

4* season ending injuries in 6 seasons.

[@All_Thingz_Pertaining]

The Falcons GM, Terry Fontenot is the best young GM in the league and the duo of Fontenot and Coach Morris is running the show. Get over it!!! They are both bright minds, forward thinkers, articulate, leader of men. KC picked Mahommes when they had Smith. The Packers picked Rogers when they had Favre, picked Love when they had Rogers. Chargers picked Rivers when they had Brees. Yall shut the hell up. Kirk Cousins will be 36 when the season starts and coming off of a non contact injury, he maybe butt hurt, but he knows this is business...its why he came to the ATL and left Vikings because of the money. These guys supposed to be experts. Once again shut the hell up. 😆

[@TheZebulonPike]

Paying your old-ass injured QB that has never played one down for you by paying him $180 million with dead-cap waiting after 2 years. That's brilliant. Giving up a top-10 pick for another chronically injured QB while pissing off your current IR QB. That's just genius. This isnt Favre to Rogers to Love. Those guys actually played for the Packers. What do the Falcons have? Two QBs that have never played for them before, one that has never been on a NFL team and had to use a first round pick to get, and one that you paid the most amount in NFL history that is 36yo, currently cant walk, and has never produced in the off-season on any team. Oh yeah, and they both have an achilles, two ACLs, and a shoulder reconstruction between them. Sounds like a recipe for success.

[@proudliberal605]

Three teams tried to trade into that pick to get Penix. It isn't just the fact that the Falcons could have drafted someone else. There was a bidding war going on and it was a seller's market. The falcons could have gotten the most return value by trading the pick.

[@mauricezackery1692]

Dude said sign Menshew then seat the player. Can’t take these guys seriously.

[@PiyachonYuenyongHYDE]

It was unfair to both Cousin and Penix. Cousin felt betrayed and Penix gonna have to deal with a drama that he have no part created

[@956-SportCards]

Cousin got huge guaranteed money. Nothing is unfair to cousins. Penix will learn and develop with no pressure unless cousin goes down with injury

[@samright4661]

@@956-SportCardsWrong Atl could have picked a player to help year 1

[@youdub7926]

@@samright4661 They should have picked the other beast from Washington ODUNZE! Huge mistake to pass on him, what a weapon to have for Cousins.

[@michaeldailey7103]

Great job pointing out the challenges this creates , stupid is as stupid does !!!

[@Lanatus]

Falcons made the draft fun. If it doesn’t work out someone is going to lose their job.

[@anthonyhilton1709]

You know what's funny. The move was very smart. Kirk Cousins is coming off a major injury. Micheal penix was the best quarterback in that draft and they knew he wasn't going to be available.

[@vampuricknight1]

Lol no, If Kirk Cousins coming off a major injury was a concern then you don't give him a 4 year deal and make him, what, the 7th highest paid QB in the league. You give him a smaller 1 or 2 year deal and if he refuses then you just get another transition guy for cheaper like Minshew. There is no world that this was a smart move because even in the world where Penix takes them to a superbowl in the next 3 or 4 years you still wasted cap on a guy that didn't help you get there that could have been spent on other vet talent that could help Penix get there sooner or repeatedly... same for if cousins takes them to a super bowl then your still dumb because you could have gotten another great player with the 8th overall pick to make his job easier and make it more likely you get there with him again before he retires. Also in either of the above scenarios where they don't get to the superbowl but get even remotely close to it, then it makes it that much worse as 1 more vet or 1 more elite guy could have potentially gotten them there, which makes it all the more painful.

[@saiher207]

What are you guys talking about? It's the best situation for penix. He is going to be the starter and carry the team. Lol

[@REALJayDOTWill]

Media is basically saying .. Penix may be better than Kirk already and that's what makes the pick questionable. No matter how much Penix was downplayed, all the signs point to, everybody believed he was a top 2 QB in this class objectively speaking.

[@user-mp6dl7wc9z]

they just wasted a INCREDIBLE resource: 100 million on Kirk/Rookie Contract or 1st Round Pick on a QB

[@WhitePillMan]

QB is the most valuable position in all of sports. Falcons are now potentially set for a decade. I’ve been a Falcons fan for 25 years and this is the smartest decision they’ve made since drafting Matt Ryan.

[@ethanlculver]

You are in denial

[@babyloobibovski2947]

Florio nailed it. This is NOTHING like packers and rogers.

[@leevancleef358]

They loved Penix so much and signed Cousins 4 yr/ $180m as a smokescreen! :)

[@SaintMichael-js5kh]

This approach to drafting has worked wonders for Chris Grier in Miami. He routinely drafts “projects” in the first 3 rounds of the draft knowing they won’t immediately contribute to the existing team. That way he can go to Stephen Ross after another playoff defeat in the 1st round and tell him about the future of the team.

[@mikewood5219]

Seahawks ended up eating Flynn’s huge contract when they took a chance on starting Wilson. That worked out well.

[@dysonspheretxi]

Wilson wasn't the 8th pick in the draft.

[@dysonspheretxi]

Flynn was unproven as well.

[@MatthewBretton-cu2el]

​@@dysonspheretxi kirk has proven to be mid!

[@mikewood5219]

@@dysonspheretxi He did have…one good game.

[@mikewood5219]

@@dysonspheretxi Not the same story, I know. But there are similarities. The point is, when you see the QB you want available you take him, regardless of who you have under contract.

[@joewyatt2269]

Honestly, I don't get the backlash. The Falcons take a guy that lots of teams and evaluators thought was worthy of a 1st round pick or even some said top 10 pick at the most valuable position in sports. They didn't expend extra draft capital to get to him like Carolina did to get Bryce Young. He gets to sit, not behind some journeyman who should only hold a clipboard, but behind a guy who might just be the best QB in the league from a preparation standpoint. What's not to love? I mean from a logic standpoint, the Kansas City Chiefs had more explaining to do about drafting Patrick Mahomes. They gave up an additional 1st round and 3rd round pick in that move up to pick him at #10. I'm not saying Penix is going to be Mahomes or anything close. I'm just stating from a ready to play in the league standpoint, most people didn't think Mahomes was a pro style guy and most people think Penix is ready to go from day 1. But in hindsight, we can say KC was smart to get a QB before they needed one and the price they paid was well worth the end result.

[@powerboon2k]

They are really embarrassing themselves in these press conferences. They haven't got a clue what they're doing.

[@JUANsoloATL]

Says a KZbinr who couldn't manage a fantasy team 🤣🤣 foh

[@styner3]

When the players and the fans see Penix in preseason flinging that ball, the 💩 is going to hit fan.

[@macalloway1]

To me this is obvious. The falcons wanted pennix to not play until he was absolutely ready. Nobody wins superbowl in their first 2 years anyway and learning behind a starting caliber qb is the best thing for any young qb. I know people believe that if he has what it takes he'll figure it out if you just throw him out there but all evidence suggest that sitting is whats best because any qb can lose confidence without proper support. Its not a mental toughness thing

[@jimsheppard3166]

I'm a lifelong Falcons fan who has come to peace with the Michael Penix selection. When the selection was announced on Thursday night I HATED it. I wanted Atlanta to trade back and select a pass rusher. I'm still not completely sold on the Penix selection but I at least understand it, now. Having to endure Marcus Mariotta and Desmond Ridder the last two seasons made it abundantly clear how important it is to have a top-tier quarterback if you want to be a SB contender. The Falcons have a strong enough roster that they shouldn't be picking in the top-10 for a while. I'd rather be early on selecting our next (potential) franchise quarterback than in a position where Kirk Cousins is washed up and we're picking 19th in a bad quarterback draft. If Cousins plays awesome, Atlanta has a really good backup. If Kirk disappoints, they have a guy on the bench that could be their next QB for a decade. Had Atlanta taken a pass rusher with their first round pick they win, what, one extra game? Again, I'm not completely sold on my own argument ☝️but I'm at least okay with it.

[@GanjahMacK]

Florio dry snitchin to start his segment is the most Florio thing to do. Lol

[@vinniehugo9065]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crazier draft pick with a pick that high. 😂

[@yuan81]

Arthur Blank should have fired the entire front office the moment they made that selection.

[@user-iq6cc3df3l]

I left the room just before this pick and when I returned I saw that Atlanta took Penix. I thought there was an error in the graphic. This is probably a stupid pick but there’s really only a couple ways this pays off, and one includes Cousins getting injured. It’s possible as it happened last year. But if that happens the Falcons GM will look like a genius. Otherwise it was probably a very bad pick.

[@hookedonfunknics2477]

Hes 23 and 24. its just media talk, We won't see how it plays out for 2-3 years. At this point it's just every talking and media coverage because they need a story.

[@leevancleef358]

Why would he look like a genius if he went out and paid $100m guaranteed for an injured guy who got injured again?

[@historybuff1483]

If Cousins gets injured, it still didn’t work out because they never should have signed him if they were drafting Penix…

[@assassssasa]

The 30 for 30 on teams passing Michael Penix Jr in about 20 years

[@trinstinbenton5420]

As a true Atlanta falcon fan welcome to atlanta bay

[@dannyduds1058]

Say what you want, but i would rather be the falcons who doubled down on the most important position in all of football, QB. As opposed to the Giants who refuse to move on from their mistake now going into year 6. Giants have not drafted a QB since overdrafting Daniel Jones in 2019

[@Urbohat]

Falcons are a laughing stock Giants in much better shape once Jones gets back from ACL They have a shaky offensive line that may improve Falcons dumbest organization in histiry

[@DogonYaro-yk6rq]

My understanding is that teams load up to win the Super Bowl. Atlanta had first round opportunity to load up, but instead, chose CONTINUITY.

[@crhoads13]

Falcons underestimated the blow back I think. Raiders should bail out the Falcons and offer 2025 1st and 2nd for Penix

[@simps104]

Everyone knew … that’s why the odds were so ridiculous it wasn’t worth betting on

[@rockhard2615]

... Kirk maybe mentioned we wanted Penix while the Tampering was in progress.

[@apskelett]

Bill Belichick knew what he was doing when he passed on this shitshow.

[@mspionage1743]

Not a Falcons fan but don't see how one could call picking this kid a waste. He has won at every single level despite being shit on and overlooked. That is one thing you just cannot teach an athlete. They either have that killer instinct on the field/court, or they don't. Those who do will do well at every single level of play. Those who don't will flail out at either the college or pro level (typically). The Falcons only major error was the huge contract they gave Cousins but picking this kid was not an error in my eyes.

[@northernbloke6787]

That last bit is the point. If you want Phenix you don't sign Kirk Cousins. If you want Kirk cousins you don't draft Phenix. It's why it's a bad pick. Nothing to do with either player.

[@510MELLYMEL]

Waste of ASSETS not player. Best option was to either just have cousins and use ammo to improve team now. Or don't sign cousins and use that money in free agency to better the team. But now you're wasting having a cheap rookie qb for 2-3/5 years of that deal and don't have the young defensive pieces.

[@mspionage1743]

@@northernbloke6787 I would agree with you but many of the sport talk shows have been shitting on him for the past few days about his draft grade and position in the draft. In the end all this cost the Falcons was money and since they have so much dead cap space anyhow, it really doesn't seem to be a big deal. Just the talking heads causing issues as always.

[@UNCtarheels71]

When they say the Falcons wasted the pick, that’s not necessarily commentary on Penix himself, it’s that they plan to sit him for at least 2, if not 4 years. Honestly of all the QBs in the first round this year, Penix is the one you’d really want to start week 1. He spent 6 years in college, there not much development left to do. Also he is gonna be 24 at the start of the season, you sit him and plan to start him in 3 years, now he’s 27 and you’ve wasted most of his rookie scale contract, which is also half the point of taking a first round QB. If Atlanta really insisted on locking down a future guy at QB beyond Kirk, then you’d expect them to take a guy like McCarthy, that would at least be a bit more sense because he’s 21. Falcons need a lot of help defensively and at 8, they had their choice at literally any defensive player on the board.

[@ajpierre]

@@northernbloke6787 The money is irrelevant. Cousins signed a 2 year contract not a 10 year contract. He'll be off the books in 2 years. How does this negatively impact the team?

[@seanarmstrong4996]

The fact that a qb with one playoff win and coming off a major injury was given 180 million is the problem

[@ksk101963]

The Seahawks need to trade with the falcons to pickup Micheal Penix Jr and bring him back to the Northwest

[@buddysteele7624]

If Penix ends up being a Tier 1 starter then it was all worth it and then some. It’s too early to try and grade this draft pick but of course Florio has to find fault wherever he can and criticize them from his high horse, even though he’s never been a GM, never been a scout, never worked for an NFL team and would assuredly do worse than every single team employee out there

[@Prosperillusion]

Owner: I want Kirk GM/ HC: We want Penix Jr.

[@rauljordanpanganiban9702]

If Jerry jones was bipolar

[@paulsimpson3113]

They went with the "why not both meme" 😂

[@macalloway1]

Keyshawn johnson knows the cEO of the falcolns and has said it was an ownership decision to draft penix so I don't know where that idea would come from outside of the obviously

[@SincerelyJnC]

Kirk Cousins: "when the owner, the gm, the head coach, and the QB are aligned and on the same page, we can win." "My goal is to retire a falcon and maybe this even isnt my final contract with falcons." Owner: i want kirk Gm/hc: we love penix. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@infinity2z3r07]

all they had to do was wait til their pick 35. they wasted 8 overall

[@Romeloblade]

Lol, Penix was not falling to 35.

[@Oreoluwa-ke5bp]

Apparently the Vikings were gunna take penix at 11

[@Royal_404]

raiders , vikes & broncos were tryna trade up for penix wouldn’t have made it

[@jzw55]

Penix does have a rifle. If Atlanta was paying attention they would have known Penix would be available at #8. That’s the part I don’t get. If you draft a QB that spent 6 years in college 24 years old when season starts should be starting day 1. He’s not a developmental QB

[@jaqenhghar6996]

I’m a Colts fan and my wife being an Atlanta native is a Falcons fan and I said to her “Imagine telling me that we’re taking Laiatu Latu @15 which we did but he isn’t going to play until 26 or 27 at the earliest barring injury maybe”. You NEVER take a player in the 1st round with the intent to sit them for years that’s ridiculous! No fanbase will get behind that logic 🤦🏾. She’s confused as we all are by the Falcons moves 🤷🏾.

[@kumbayah8346]

See Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. Both taken in the 1st round and sat for 3 years.

[@JT-mn2op]

Aaron Rogers & Jordan Love both drafted in the first round & both sat for years & it worked out fine for them. U don’t draft to please the fans.

[@seanmurphy26]

It makes complete sense if you're pragmatic and look at the new longer NFL season and more frequent injuries especially with the most important position on the field, quarterback.. it will be a miracle Kirk cousins is not injured by week 10. After that everybody will understand what's the two quarterbacks, what's not understandable is Kirk cousins contract..

[@aidanorsino1]

So if you had no info about why , what do you base your negative option on ? The fact that your note formed ?

[@iloveyoumadhuri]

What’s also stupid is that the Falcons may have tampered with Cousins before Free Agency, and if they lose a pick over that, the Penix pick makes it worse. Sure they’ll lose nothing more than a 3rd round pick in 2025, but that could have been your new running back or safety, which you would use to embarrass your current RB & safety too.

[@mjdntn]

The best you could describe this is that Pennix is insurance for Cousins. Frankly, he could be playing a whole lot more than people are anticipating. Old man Cousins has a mean injury, and it's brutal to recover from at that age.

[@Noahvon503]

Then why you give Kirk the bag

[@GoneFishin352wflap]

@@Noahvon503 Insurance purposes! Penix is the future!

[@warrenmason1582]

​@GoneFishin352wflap then pay someone else alot less money and use the money for kirk to fill out the roster

[@Noahvon503]

@GoneFishin352wflap that's not a good argument at all! Bad franchises gonna do what they do I guess

[@johnbox271]

"...Pennix is insurance..." Maybe it will workout, but since 2012 less than 50% of all 1st round QBs drafted get a second contract from the team that drafted them.

[@rexlark]

I see no problem for either Atlanta, Cousins or Penix. Atlanta get 2 qbs that will most likely help them win games. Cousins got generational money, regardless. Penix get to sit back and learn from a vet for a little bit. Ooh, and I'm happy for Penix. Go Dawgs!

[@Dustyphoto915]

It’s a sports media topic. Apparently this was the most important topic of the draft

[@Monkey31]

these are the guys who said Sam darnold was amazing and the giants drafted Danny who will never see the field. watch this kid become the best qb in this draft class

[@dymondknuckles]

Penix was a very smart pick you forgot Kirk cousins is 37 and coming off of Achilles injury. Aaron Rogers did the same thing and he was injured the fourth play of last year. The jets season was over. I’m not saying they are the same but an Achilles isn’t a sprain ankle…🙏🏾 so having him there for now and or later is very smart look at the jets

[@GoKU-xx2vg]

You forget the Penix is old as well and had injuries

[@dymondknuckles]

Name one football player that’s never been injured??

[@notme1976]

“When the owner, General Manager, head coach, and quarterback are on the same page, that’s when you have really a chance to go win a Super Bowl,” Cousins said.

[@TiredofTomfoolery7]

The only bad thing was giving Cousins that ridiculous contract. Drafting Penix was the best thing they actually could've done. How many playoff wins did Counsins have in Minnesota? Washington? Therefore, what the hell is he supposed to do in Atlanta? Stop the bull 💩. He will be starting after a year.

[@Anti-Ignorance]

Alot of peoples true COLORS are coming out with this OUTSTANDING pick... interesting.

[@Valcurdra]

This strategy is dumb because either; A: Cousins plays great and maintains the starting job for 3 years, but without a star WR picked at #7 the team falls short each year, or B: Penix quickly takes over, but you are missing 100million bucks in cap space to build around him.

[@ATLfalcons808]

Kurt Warner on an interview before the draft had said that Michael Penix is the best QB coming out of this draft. Atlanta Falcons got a steel and everybody is salty.

[@JetChipWasp]

I'm not defending the pick, but 'You like that?!' Kirk Cousins is the best Kirk Cousins and this move will probably facilitate that version of him for the entirety of his time in Atlanta.

[@rodneymolidorjr.6095]

I think the Falcons made this pick due to management suffering PTSD from what they went through last year from the QB position. They proudly said, "NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!" as they made this pick, for better or worse.

[@ASidd1]

Michael Penix is no spring chicken, he's a grown ass man by NFL standards.

[@AaronWood-zy3mj]

Media after the Giants just paid Daniel Jones $160 million: "The Giants need to draft a quarterback at 6" Media after the Falcons drafted a quarterback at 8 and paid $100 million for Kirk: "The Falcons shouldn't draft a quarterback at 8"

[@drlove994]

If you had Penix as the 2nd best quarterback in the draft and he falls to 8 you draft him simple

[@chuckchuckerson5364]

I would push back on Cousins arm evaluation, but the rest is spot on. Cousins arm is absolutely elite, and next gen stats back that up.

[@135incorporated9]

There were 66 DIFFERENT starting quaterbacks last season. Aaron Rogers went down on the first series of the season. The quaterback position will cost $300,000,000 going forward. You better get who you want instead of taking what you can.

[@TerryDanielVoiceoverTutorials]

There is no way in hell Penix would sit for 4-5 years. Zero chance.

[@kowsdontski22]

This has to be one of the worst takes from a GM..... Wow.... Poor ATL fans

[@BennyBunghole-tk7ts]

Penix wasn't the "oh shit" moment, it was more like a "dumb ass" moment.

[@therancifers7411]

I usually agree with these guys on most topics but come on fellas! Kurt was essentially signed to play for two years there and if the truth would be told, they are trying to win now and not have to worry or sacrifice the future for later! I am not a falcons, but this is a sneaky, great pic and in a few years, we will be saying how much of a genius these guys are. Kirk is getting 100m guaranteed, he will be ok. And if you have a problem with that pick beat him out every week.

[@dannyquilter8366]

Kirk is guaranteed to beat Penix out. Kirk can just throw the ball out the back of his own wndzone and he'll beat Penix. Unless you're telling me the Falcons are going to pay a backup QB 100 million. Which they're not. Kirk is guaranteed to start for 2 years

[@DJJessie37]

Terry is going to be linked to this forever lol. SMH

[@Sasha-vb3mh]

I like it. Kirk is coming off an injury and signed a bazillion dollars, he’ll be fine. Penix has the potential to elevate ATL, not mad at it at all