It’s been more than two weeks since the Atlanta Falcons stunned a lot of people and selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The pick came a little over a month after they signed Kirk Cousins to a massive four-year $180 million contract in free agency.
Cousins was a bit taken aback by the pick but can only look forward since it’s over.
“I think you’re reminded again, that there are things you control, and there’s a lot of things you don’t control,” Cousins said, (first transcribed by On3). “And so let’s deal in reality, you know, and recognize that fact and then be a steward, not an owner. So I just believe that I got to steward what comes my way and control what I can control, which is what a steward does but a steward doesn’t worry about that which they can’t control. An owner does.”
Cousins is expected to enter the 2024 season as the starter and will likely keep his job into the 2025 season, too. The Falcons want to slowly bring Penix Jr. along and brought up the Green Bay model when they drafted him.
Cousins will also get to mentor Penix Jr. a little bit but his main focus will be on helping the Falcons win games.