In what was by far the most head-scratching decision of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. despite having recently signed Kirk Cousins to a multi-year deal. But there doesn’t seem to be any competition between the two right now.
Speaking to the media this week, Cousins said that it’s been “great” working with Penix. He said that the quarterbacks room with John Paddock and Taylor Heinicke is working well together overall and considers all of them to be assets.
“It’s been great,” Cousins said, via ProFootballTalk. “You know, it continues to be kind of that working force together. There’s so much we all are kind of having to learn right now and grow together in. And so we’re doing that.
“Michael’s doing great. John’s doing great. Taylor’s awesome. It’s so good to have a person in the room who’s started dozens of games and has been in the fire and really has that experience. I love being able to lean on that. So, Taylor’s been a huge asset.”
Cousins missed half of the 2023 season after suffering an Achilles injury and was allowed to walk in free agency by the Minnesota Vikings. The Falcons wound up giving him a four-year, $180 million contract and penciled him in as the starter.
That only made the team’s decision to draft Penix all the more baffling since the rookie either won’t get onto the field for a couple of years, or winds up replacing Cousins mid-contract.
There’s no doubt the Falcons have the most interesting quarterback situation in the NFL right now.