Atlanta Falcons ripped apart again for drafting Michael Penix Jr. and signing Kirk Cousin

The Atlanta Falcons shocked the NFL world with the selection of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Many draft analysts did not view Penix as a first-round pick, and the Falcons had just added free agent Kirk Cousins ​​in a $180 million deal.

Alex Kay of Bleacher Report disputed the latter – drafting Penix after signing Cousins. In fact, the analyst called it the worst decision of the 2024 NFL offseason.

“While the Falcons are clearly hoping Penix resembles his former self in Washington and not the player who struggled with the Hoosiers, there’s a good chance he won’t even get the starting job until after almost 30 years old”, Kay wrote. “That’s because they also signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​to a four-year, $180 million contract, including $100 million guaranteed in free agency.

“Penix’s four-year rookie contract will run concurrently with Cousins’. If Cousins ​​plays out his entire contract, the Falcons will have to make a tough decision regarding Penix’s expensive fifth-year option in 2027.

“While a lot could change for Cousins ​​and Penix over the next few years, there is a real chance this scenario could play out in Atlanta. Cousins ​​isn’t happy about it either.

It’s not hard to understand why Kay didn’t like what the Falcons were doing at quarterback. The drafting of Penix and the signing of Cousins ​​directly contradict each other.

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Bottom line: Atlanta signed a 36-year-old quarterback to a massive deal, then failed to deliver any player with an immediate impact in the first round of the draft.

But Kay’s explanation for why he ranked Penix’s draft as the NFL’s worst offseason decision doesn’t completely add up. Indeed, even though Cousins ​​signed a 4-year deal, the way the Falcons structured the deal, it seemed unlikely from the start that this would be a 4-year marriage.

Cousins’ dead cap hit will drop from $65 million in 2025 to $25 million in 2026. His cap hit will then drop again to $12.5 million for the final year of the contract.

Meanwhile, his cap hit will increase from $40 million in 2025 to $57.5 million in 2026. It will remain at $57.5 million for 2027.

Releasing a player and taking a $25 million dead cap hit isn’t ideal. But it has become much more common, and it will continue to be a regular practice, with the NFL salary cap likely to increase by as much as $30 million each year.

Even without Penix on the roster, Atlanta probably wouldn’t want to have Cousins ​​behind center when he has giant success over his last two seasons. He will have one of the greatest successes in the NFL at 38 years old.

On the other hand, if Cousins ​​is worth that money in 2026, then the Falcons will probably be happy to give it to him. The franchise should be happy to keep Penix on the bench if Cousins ​​holds the team to the Super Bowl for the first time in nearly a decade.

But drafting Penix only confirms that Cousins’ stay in Atlanta won’t last four years. Therefore, the idea that Penix might not take the field “until he’s almost 30” is not a fair criticism of the draft pick.

Penix could be the Falcons’ starter as early as 2025, at the age of 25. On May 8, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell suggested the scenario in which Atlanta could trade Cousins ​​after the upcoming season.

You don’t have to like Atlanta’s decision to draft Penix. But worrying that he won’t return to the field before his rookie contract expires because of Cousins ​​shouldn’t be a reason to dislike this decision.