Falcons' Gamble: Cousins Left Puzzled by Surprise Penix Selection

The Atlanta Falcons shocked the NFL by selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the draft, a move that left veteran starter Kirk Cousins in the dark.

The Atlanta Falcons' decision to draft quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the NFL Draft sent shockwaves through the league. The move was widely seen as a surprise, as the Falcons had just signed Kirk Cousins to a lucrative four-year, $180 million deal last month.

The selection of Penix, a 24-year-old southpaw from Washington, has raised questions about the Falcons' plans for Cousins, who is coming off an Achilles injury. While Cousins is expected to be the team's starting quarterback in 2024, the addition of Penix adds a layer of uncertainty to his long-term future in Atlanta.

According to NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, the Falcons kept their plans to draft Penix a secret from Cousins. "Kirk Cousins was not given really a heads up on this whole thing," Jeremiah said.

ESPN later reported that the Falcons did inform Cousins about the possibility of drafting a quarterback, but the veteran signal-caller was not expecting the team to take one in the first round. The Athletic reported that Cousins was "stunned" by the selection of Penix.

The Falcons' decision to draft a quarterback has also raised eyebrows given the fact that Penix was not widely considered to be among the top prospects in this year's draft. Many had projected him to go in the second or third round, making his selection in the top 10 even more surprising.

Penix has a history of injuries, having torn his right ACL twice and suffering a clavicle fracture and an A/C joint separation during his college career. His durability concerns could be a factor in how the Falcons utilize him in the future.

The Falcons' selection of Penix is a bold move that could have significant implications for the franchise. The team is now faced with the challenge of balancing the needs of Cousins, Penix, and the organization as a whole. How the Falcons navigate this situation will be a key storyline to watch in the coming months.