It wasn't supposed to be this way. The Atlanta Falcons were going to sign the team's first franchise quarterback since Matt Ryan's departure. Negotiations went well; everything was moving along smoothly, and Cousins had already embraced the city. Then, the hammer dropped when Atlanta drafted Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Speculation has already been high around Atlanta due to the fact that Penix Jr. would replace Cousins with three games left last season and play reasonably well as a rookie. Then, things got even more interesting when injury bug rumors started to arise. Oh, that's why Cousins would throw nine interceptions to zero touchdowns during a stretch? Who knows.
Atlanta Falcons QBs Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins are pictured during the team's mini-camp. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Atlanta Falcons QBs Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins are pictured during the team's mini-camp. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Mini-camp rolls around, and Kirk Cousins has finally arrived and taken the field. Cousins and Penix Jr. looked to be on good terms to the public, but who knows what went on behind the scenes? Cousins then talks to the media and states that he had been in discussions about a trade every month, and he would say, "Of course I want to start, but that's just not my reality right now."
Cousins would also state that he is entirely behind Penix Jr. and would be perfectly fine with holding up a Lombardi trophy in February, since that was still the goal. Look, Cousins is a great teammate both on and off the field; Penix Jr. is as well. But when would we get some drama? Or some criticism to fuel the media, right?
Recently, when Netflix's documentary "Quarterback" dropped, Cousins would finally open up about the events that transpired, stating, “Was pretty surprised when the draft happened, wasn’t expecting us to take a quarterback so high."
“At the time, it felt like I had been a little bit misled, or certainly if I had had the information around free agency, it would have affected my decision. I had no reason to leave Minnesota, as much as we loved it there, if both teams were drafting a quarterback high.”
Kirk Cousins did feel blindsided by the draft and threatened by the presence of Penix Jr. Cousins knows that the NFL is a cutthroat business, which is why he tried to hide an injury he suffered during Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints.
Cousins would say, “Immediately, my elbow lit up, and I knew I had irritated something." “Had a shooting pain through the inside of my elbow. My shoulder started to really throb, so I knew right away, Okay, this is a little more serious. Once I lost my shoulder and elbow, I didn’t have many more things to lean on to get the power I needed. It’s hard looking back to not view it as things certainly turned in that moment because in a way, they did.”
“Should I have sat out? Should I have done something different in my rehab? You know, you have all those questions,” Cousins said. “With the information I had at the time, I made the best decision, but you also know if you sit down Week 10 and take two or three weeks to let it heal, you may never get your job back."
As long as Cousins remains in Atlanta, he will be waiting with bells on his feet to get into the game. It is worth noting, Atlanta plays four playoff teams from a season ago within the team's first five weeks. If Penix Jr. struggles early, the Falcons may pull the plug.