The decision by the Falcons to use the eighth overall pick on a quarterback, barely six weeks after committing $100 million to Kirk Cousins, is confusing and raises questions about their intentions. The goal of signing Cousins was presumably to try and win a championship with him, so selecting his potential replacement in the draft seems counterproductive to that aim. The lack of clarity in communication from the Falcons may have contributed to Cousins’ confusion, as their message of chasing a championship seems to contradict their actions of drafting a quarterback for the future.
Comparisons have been made to the way the Chiefs treated Alex Smith, but the key difference is that 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 to the league 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, the Falcons 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 the rug out from under him, much like Lucy did with Charlie Brown.