Kirk Cousins was ‘stunned’ to see Falcons pick Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall at 2024 NFL Draft a month after Atlanta signed the 35-year-old QB to a four-year, $180million deal

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​was “a little stunned” to see the team select his colleague Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in the NFL Draft, according to Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Reports from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and others have since confirmed Cousins’ surprise at the move.

The Falcons extended their recent trend of selecting players with offensive skills in the first round by selecting Penix a month after signing Cousins ​​to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. Using a draft spot normally allocated to players expected to make an immediate impact, the Falcons selected Penix as the apparent long-term successor to the 35-year-old Cousins.

The Falcons were expected to use the pick to increase their pass rush.

The Falcons also focused on offensive playmakers with their final three first-round picks. Tight end Kyle Pitts was the fourth overall pick in 2021, followed by wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, each No. 8, the last two years.

Penix, who will turn 24 as a rookie, led FBS schools with 4,903 passing yards and was third with 36 touchdown passes. He won the Maxwell Award as the country’s best player.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said this week that he would consider selecting a quarterback high in the draft even though most of the outside focus had been on offenses.

“If we see a player that we think can be a franchise quarterback at any time, whether it’s this draft, next draft, whether it’s a player we can trade for, whatever, you have to bring that player in because “We talk about the next four or five years and more when we talk about guys we’re recruiting,” Fontenot said.

‘It’s no different than when we talk about any other position, as you said, it can be said to be surplus now, but it may be a major need in the future. “I think that because of that and because of the magnitude of the effects and the impact of that position, you always have to be willing to incorporate players.”

The Falcons’ draft will not be affected by the NFL’s investigation into the team’s possible violation of tampering policies before signing Cousins, who appeared to indicate he had been in communication with team officials at one point. in which the team would have been allowed to speak only with his agent.