The Falcons have made the decision to use their eighth overall pick on a quarterback, just six weeks after committing $100 million to Kirk Cousins. This move has left many people confused and questioning their intentions. It seems counterproductive to sign Cousins with the goal of winning a championship and then select his potential replacement in the draft. There may be a lack of clarity in communication from the Falcons, as their message of chasing a championship seems to contradict their actions of drafting a quarterback for the future.
There have been comparisons made between the way the Chiefs treated Alex Smith and how the Falcons are treating Cousins, but there is one key difference: Smith had several years with the team before they decided to move on. Cousins, on the other hand, has not even played a game with the Falcons yet, making it seem premature to already be planning for his replacement. The Falcons may be underestimating Cousins’ abilities by assuming he is only capable of taking them to a certain level, but not further. This approach should have been made clear to Cousins during the recruitment process, as it may have influenced his decision to sign with Atlanta.
The drafting of Penix sends a clear message that the Falcons are betting on the Cousins narrative and are prepared to stick with it. By choosing Penix over a player who could make an immediate impact, they risk creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that reinforces their beliefs about Cousins’ capabilities. While Cousins will still receive his $100 million contract, his hopes of a Super Bowl win with the Falcons may have been dashed as they seem to have pulled
