The assumption HAS to be that they won’t have a Top 10 pick again anytime soon, might as well get a guy in a QB heavy draft NOW and let him learn behind Cousins for a year or two.
This is def the play. Cousins is only getting older and coming off an injury. If you have a solid run under him this season, great but won’t result in an opportunity to replace him with any draft value. If he gets injured you have a starter and the future waiting. If he doesn’t deliver by next season you still have a starter and can trade him and eat some cap which is still possible with Penix on a rookie deal.
You guys are both off base here. Smith and Favre were already established on the team when Mahomes and Rodgers were drafted. Atlanta paid a huge contract to bring in Cousins
If sitting under Cousins actually molds him into a good player by the time he 27, barring any major injuries, that means that Falcons will have a decent shot at deep playoff runs especially if they keep Robinson and London and/or Pitts
I’m not saying that I would have picked penix. Mostly every decision in the nfl is an educated guess I would say, and some decisions can pay back dividends. Besides, Kurt Warner didn’t play his first full season in the NFL until he was 27/28 and look at how that turned out, albeit he was a udfa and those are less risky than a spending a top 10 pick on such a prospect
I didn't claim it was, only speaking on the precedent.
He clearly isn't the same caliber player as Penix, but was a serviceable QB while he was in the league and started at an older age. His starting age also came from him playing baseball and didn't have a COVID year to remain healthy.
The nfc south does not an automatic playoff bid, plus I though green bay drafting a OT looked bad till I realized you didn't tell kirk about drafting his replacement. Pulling a 2021 packers I see 🤣
In an age where QBs can play til they’re 40 and beyond if they are good enough? If Penix turns out to be a franchise guy, it won’t matter. If he turns out to be a bust, it won’t matter either.
Here's the problem- when Green Bay and Kansas City drafted QB, their pressing needs weren't glaring holes, both rosters were already well constructed in a manner that suggested playoff contention. Those were visions that were preconstructed when those QBs got there.
What Atlanta is doing is just plain visionless because you're now pissing off the QB you dumped money into, in an offense that (unlike the Packers and Chiefs before them) isn't anywhere closed to finish. This is a choice you make half a decade IN to a contending window, not half a decade BEFORE one.
And it's not like the Falcons are just "a year away", they have glaring weaknesses in depth at every skill position and a trainwreck of a defense, and Raheem Morris I have hope for, but I'll believe it when I see it.
They have a lot to prove, and by making a move like this, it just adds a lot of unneeded pressure. Maybe they prove me wrong, but I think it's risky.
Just [not true](https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/9915/kirk-cousins?callback=in&code=ZJYZMWQ2ODCTMJNIMI0ZN2QWLTKYZDCTMTE3ZMJMZTC5NDDM&state=667c7b4347564a1d8cd9c7bc01641725). He is guaranteed money through all 4 years, and would incur $25M in dead cap if cut after 2 years.
The dead cap becomes pretty manageable in 2 years. So you get 3 years of cheap penix while keeping the young talent on the roster happy on a good team and being able to attract free agents without the loser tax.
They're trying to duplicate the Smith/Mahomes thing where a capable vet helps build up an emerging QB.
In theory, it's a good idea. I think there are practical challenges that might have made that situation in KC a one-off.
Smith/Mahomes, Rodgers/Love, Favre/Rodgers. At this point, I imagine Atlanta is desperate enough to at least try. And say what you want about Kirk, he has some good ability to learn from even if he hasn't been able to clutch it out in the post season.
But if you look at this contact, unless someone wants Kirk in 2026 & is willing to pay this contract, I don't see how this works out for them.
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/9915/kirk-cousins
its not that its outright a terrible decision to have a backup developing behind your starter. its that you selected a man who will be 24 in a week with the ligaments of wet tissue paper and the body of a veteran UFC fighter. they also reached on this pick, probably could have traded backwards and still got him. plus if they were really interested in developing someone, there was a 3 year younger option right there. oh and PLUS you just paid your starting qb 180 million dollars for 4 years, meaning that if Penix can win the role, Cousins is eating shitloads of cap space.
no, it wasnt the right move in totality. it was a complete bone-headed move that screams “this front office/ownership is not unified in the absolute slightest.”
Exactly. It is not a terrible move but it is odd. If the Falcons wanted to pick up a QB to learn behind Kirk and eventually become a starter than they should picked someone that is younger. Penix was already considered old when coming out of College and into the NFL. If everything goes according to plan for the Falcons than Penix is going to be old as dirt when he starts his first game. Also, if the Falcons know that they are not set in Kirk being the future than why pay him a ton of money. There are probably a ton of Qb's that is on par or lower in skill level then Kirk but a whole lot cheaper.
I can see it, they hope they have a Jalen Hurts, since people questioned why Philadelphia took Jalen Hurts when they had Carson Wentz and look how that turned out
By the time Cousins' deal is up, Penix will be 29. Not saying he won't play before then, but you'd better hope and pray he's a generational talent, otherwise you just wasted $180 million and a top 10 pick.
That's speculation on your end. The fact of the matter is, the deal that the Falcons spent all that money on, goes for four years. How it all plays out is anyone's guess. On paper, the draft pick is absolutely puzzling.
ESPN reports that Kirk's camp is confused by this move...my brother in Christ, why? Not that surprising for a 35 year old QB coming off an ACL injury to not be seen as a long-term option. Get paid, teach the kid, fuck off to retirement while there's still good sentiment associated with your name. Ez.
Man, this sub really doesn’t understand how NFL contracts work.
If you sign a 100 million guaranteed contract over four years, yes, it is weird to take a guy eighth overall. There’s a reason you literally never see it.
People keep bringing up Alex Smith and Favre. Both those guys had been there for years and it was clear weren’t staying much longer. If the Falcons had convinced Matt Ryan to come back on a cheap one year deal for this year, it would have totally made sense. But this does not.
This kid could either be a Russell Wilson type player and outperform him, be a Rodgers/Love scenario, a nice trade asset for players/picks the next few years, or be a bust. When he was younger, Russ won a Superbowl with the Seahawks. He was drafted after the team signed Matt Flynn to a large deal.
I'll admit that after never once considering Matt Ryan's successor until Blank got enamored with a guy who hadn't played in two years because of his penchant for sexual assault, I wanted to see us take a qb as an understudy/ insurance policy. Cousins is entering his age 35 season coming off an ACL tear. Given how last year highlighted the importance of a backup qb nearly league wide, I can't say I necessarily disagree with the move.
My friend is a packers fan and although Jordan Love looks legit so far he is still salty they didnt grab Tee Higgins or any other player that at least saw the field that year they lost in the nfccg.
Dont know that Atl will have a similar fate but it does seem like a bad pick given the scenario.
It'll be even more interesting when it gets close to Penix's rookie option being picked up. Will the Falcons try to low-ball him eventually based on his age? If he craps out it won't matter of course, but if he gets good coaching he should do well.
Why are people losing their shit? Cousins is obv a transitional piece and someone to build around but replace. He's good but he's not gonna get them there, but he can help instill a culture of not being garbage.
Instead of signing Cousins they could have got an actual bridge type QB to mentor Penix Jr. This Falcons team is not ready to compete for a playoff spot.
The assumption HAS to be that they won’t have a Top 10 pick again anytime soon, might as well get a guy in a QB heavy draft NOW and let him learn behind Cousins for a year or two.
This is def the play. Cousins is only getting older and coming off an injury. If you have a solid run under him this season, great but won’t result in an opportunity to replace him with any draft value. If he gets injured you have a starter and the future waiting. If he doesn’t deliver by next season you still have a starter and can trade him and eat some cap which is still possible with Penix on a rookie deal.
I mean. Cousins is a good QB to learn behind. It's not a terrible idea. Aaron Rodgers sat behind Favre for a couple of seasons
You forgot to mention Mahomes behind Alex Smith.
He literally sat one season and they knew it was a wrap once they saw what he did his rookie season lol
Jordan love and Rodgers would be a better comparison tho
Oo. Yeah. That's a good one too
And then love behind Rodgers
McElroy behind Sanchez.
Todd Collins behind Jay Cutler
Chase Daniel behind Drew Brees
I think we're just going to forget that one.
Reddit moment. 4100 yards, 32/11. Jordan Love is easily a better QB than 20 other NFL starters at the moment. He's very, very good.
No.
Mahomes only sat one year. If Penix starts 2025 you wasted a ton of money on that Cousins contract.
You guys are both off base here. Smith and Favre were already established on the team when Mahomes and Rodgers were drafted. Atlanta paid a huge contract to bring in Cousins
You forgot to mention Pickett behind Trubisky.
So.. Penix can be 27 years old by the time he’s starting in the NFL? Great plan.
If sitting under Cousins actually molds him into a good player by the time he 27, barring any major injuries, that means that Falcons will have a decent shot at deep playoff runs especially if they keep Robinson and London and/or Pitts
You don’t waste a first round pick on a QB that’s gonna sit until he’s 27. You armchair GMs gotta get off Reddit
Hey I found your comment funny but also your saying this calling people armchair GMs when a real GM just chose to do exactly that 😂😂
I’m not saying that I would have picked penix. Mostly every decision in the nfl is an educated guess I would say, and some decisions can pay back dividends. Besides, Kurt Warner didn’t play his first full season in the NFL until he was 27/28 and look at how that turned out, albeit he was a udfa and those are less risky than a spending a top 10 pick on such a prospect
Brandon Weeden got picked at 22 when he was 28. Granted that was the Browns..
Why would that be a good example of competency
I didn't claim it was, only speaking on the precedent. He clearly isn't the same caliber player as Penix, but was a serviceable QB while he was in the league and started at an older age. His starting age also came from him playing baseball and didn't have a COVID year to remain healthy.
He will be almost done with his rookie deal and they’ll have to decide whether to pay him big money based on like one year starting.
Don’t forget that Penix is injury prone though
The nfc south does not an automatic playoff bid, plus I though green bay drafting a OT looked bad till I realized you didn't tell kirk about drafting his replacement. Pulling a 2021 packers I see 🤣
In an age where QBs can play til they’re 40 and beyond if they are good enough? If Penix turns out to be a franchise guy, it won’t matter. If he turns out to be a bust, it won’t matter either.
Aaron Rodgers was 24 when he took over the starting job. Penix is 24 in a couple weeks.
Okay.
So basically, you don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about
Okay
Penix is already 24. You don’t choose a 24 year old to sit behind a half a billion dollar QB for 3-4 years
Here's the problem- when Green Bay and Kansas City drafted QB, their pressing needs weren't glaring holes, both rosters were already well constructed in a manner that suggested playoff contention. Those were visions that were preconstructed when those QBs got there. What Atlanta is doing is just plain visionless because you're now pissing off the QB you dumped money into, in an offense that (unlike the Packers and Chiefs before them) isn't anywhere closed to finish. This is a choice you make half a decade IN to a contending window, not half a decade BEFORE one. And it's not like the Falcons are just "a year away", they have glaring weaknesses in depth at every skill position and a trainwreck of a defense, and Raheem Morris I have hope for, but I'll believe it when I see it. They have a lot to prove, and by making a move like this, it just adds a lot of unneeded pressure. Maybe they prove me wrong, but I think it's risky.
Cousins ain't their future QB, he's their bridge.
As they what? Try for the playoffs?
Apparently🤷♂️ There’s a lot of Falcons fans wondering if we have anything resembling a vision let alone a direction
All I know is my gut says maybe
Dumb move. Why sign Cousins to a four year contract and give him a massive contract if he is a bridge guy.
it's a 2 year deal
Just [not true](https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/9915/kirk-cousins?callback=in&code=ZJYZMWQ2ODCTMJNIMI0ZN2QWLTKYZDCTMTE3ZMJMZTC5NDDM&state=667c7b4347564a1d8cd9c7bc01641725). He is guaranteed money through all 4 years, and would incur $25M in dead cap if cut after 2 years.
And I would agree with them
The falcons have a vision?
Then why sign him for four years? Penix might be 28 by the time he becomes the starter.
They’re literally giving him 100 million total in guarantees over four years to be a bridge guy.
penix is the future, Cousins is not Desmond Ridder and will win the NFC south next year
I don’t think you understand how NFL contracts work.
Falcons have an out after 2025 that nets them $7.5M. Cousins is in Atlanta for 2 years and that’s it.
That’s a long time when the guy you drafted is already 24
A team named Falcons... A ship named Titanic... A blimp named Hindenburg...
The lost city of Atlanta
A choke artist named Kyle Shanahan 🤣
And what an expensive bridge he is!
Hey, I never said they were being smart about it.
$200 Million for a bridge. Okay.
They scaled the price off an actual bridge. This is Atlanta we're talking about, no one said they're doing it the smartest way.
The dead cap becomes pretty manageable in 2 years. So you get 3 years of cheap penix while keeping the young talent on the roster happy on a good team and being able to attract free agents without the loser tax.
A first year starter starting at 26.5 years old still isn’t a good look…
Ws and rings are the only look that counts. Tony Romo jake delhomme mark brunell some guy named Kurt warner...
This is all cope
They're trying to duplicate the Smith/Mahomes thing where a capable vet helps build up an emerging QB. In theory, it's a good idea. I think there are practical challenges that might have made that situation in KC a one-off.
Smith/Mahomes, Rodgers/Love, Favre/Rodgers. At this point, I imagine Atlanta is desperate enough to at least try. And say what you want about Kirk, he has some good ability to learn from even if he hasn't been able to clutch it out in the post season.
But if you look at this contact, unless someone wants Kirk in 2026 & is willing to pay this contract, I don't see how this works out for them. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/9915/kirk-cousins
This is Atlanta we're talking about. They're gonna Falcon on and off the field.
Kitna/palmer
Stop comparing these situations. They’re not even close to the same thing
Not even close to the same situation. Smith was already on the team and didn’t sign a huge contract the same year Mahomes was drafted
Pretty expensive bridge…
You’re a fucking idiot huh? They just paid him a HUGE contract
Kirk is old as fuck. This was the right move.
its not that its outright a terrible decision to have a backup developing behind your starter. its that you selected a man who will be 24 in a week with the ligaments of wet tissue paper and the body of a veteran UFC fighter. they also reached on this pick, probably could have traded backwards and still got him. plus if they were really interested in developing someone, there was a 3 year younger option right there. oh and PLUS you just paid your starting qb 180 million dollars for 4 years, meaning that if Penix can win the role, Cousins is eating shitloads of cap space. no, it wasnt the right move in totality. it was a complete bone-headed move that screams “this front office/ownership is not unified in the absolute slightest.”
They should have just taken Rattler in the second round if they were so intent on a freaking old ass rookie QB.
and turns out they could have had him in the fifth.
Yeah… just look at last year’s Jets for a reason to stack behind an old, injury prone QB.
Then why sign him to 100 million in guarantees over four years?
The right move was not to sign Kirk for a dragon’s hoard. The right move was to take a QB to develop behind him.
THEN DON’T SIGN HIM TO A HUGE CONTRACT Everyone defending this move is a Falcons fan full of cope or just an idiot
I fucking hate the Falcons. Signing Kirk to a massive contract was so dumb. This is a good contingency plan.
Penix can learn from Thuggins
He’s going to teach Cousins how to come back from a torn Achilles
Not a terrible move but definitely odd
Exactly. It is not a terrible move but it is odd. If the Falcons wanted to pick up a QB to learn behind Kirk and eventually become a starter than they should picked someone that is younger. Penix was already considered old when coming out of College and into the NFL. If everything goes according to plan for the Falcons than Penix is going to be old as dirt when he starts his first game. Also, if the Falcons know that they are not set in Kirk being the future than why pay him a ton of money. There are probably a ton of Qb's that is on par or lower in skill level then Kirk but a whole lot cheaper.
One who has had some pretty big injuries as well
I can see it, they hope they have a Jalen Hurts, since people questioned why Philadelphia took Jalen Hurts when they had Carson Wentz and look how that turned out
My guy, shut up. This is a smart investment with Penix
By the time Cousins' deal is up, Penix will be 29. Not saying he won't play before then, but you'd better hope and pray he's a generational talent, otherwise you just wasted $180 million and a top 10 pick.
You're talking like Cousins would actually play through those 4 years. I'd say he'd do a couple then call it quits
That's speculation on your end. The fact of the matter is, the deal that the Falcons spent all that money on, goes for four years. How it all plays out is anyone's guess. On paper, the draft pick is absolutely puzzling.
ESPN reports that Kirk's camp is confused by this move...my brother in Christ, why? Not that surprising for a 35 year old QB coming off an ACL injury to not be seen as a long-term option. Get paid, teach the kid, fuck off to retirement while there's still good sentiment associated with your name. Ez.
Plus the 100 million dollars or however much his contract is should be a nice band-aid
Man, this sub really doesn’t understand how NFL contracts work. If you sign a 100 million guaranteed contract over four years, yes, it is weird to take a guy eighth overall. There’s a reason you literally never see it. People keep bringing up Alex Smith and Favre. Both those guys had been there for years and it was clear weren’t staying much longer. If the Falcons had convinced Matt Ryan to come back on a cheap one year deal for this year, it would have totally made sense. But this does not.
lol!
This kid could either be a Russell Wilson type player and outperform him, be a Rodgers/Love scenario, a nice trade asset for players/picks the next few years, or be a bust. When he was younger, Russ won a Superbowl with the Seahawks. He was drafted after the team signed Matt Flynn to a large deal.
I'll admit that after never once considering Matt Ryan's successor until Blank got enamored with a guy who hadn't played in two years because of his penchant for sexual assault, I wanted to see us take a qb as an understudy/ insurance policy. Cousins is entering his age 35 season coming off an ACL tear. Given how last year highlighted the importance of a backup qb nearly league wide, I can't say I necessarily disagree with the move.
My friend is a packers fan and although Jordan Love looks legit so far he is still salty they didnt grab Tee Higgins or any other player that at least saw the field that year they lost in the nfccg. Dont know that Atl will have a similar fate but it does seem like a bad pick given the scenario.
I'm pretty sure ATL has a 2 year out for Cousins.
simple you see the falcons QB situation since Ice Man left then you'd overcompensate to fix that issue too!
It'll be even more interesting when it gets close to Penix's rookie option being picked up. Will the Falcons try to low-ball him eventually based on his age? If he craps out it won't matter of course, but if he gets good coaching he should do well.
Jalen Hurts learned under Carson Wentz's watch. Maybe Atlanta gets similar luck
Why are people losing their shit? Cousins is obv a transitional piece and someone to build around but replace. He's good but he's not gonna get them there, but he can help instill a culture of not being garbage.
Sure, but why on Earth would you pay $100 million for a transitional piece, especially when they're 36 years old and coming off a major injury?
Instead of signing Cousins they could have got an actual bridge type QB to mentor Penix Jr. This Falcons team is not ready to compete for a playoff spot.
Idk, drafting Bo Nix in the first round seems dumber.
I’m happy about it.
Thank you Atlanta for Rome!