Kirk Cousins ​​’doesn’t have to look over his shoulder’ at Michael Penix Jr., Falcons coach Raheem Morris says after Atlanta’s surprising decision to select a QB with the eighth pick after signing another for 180 million dollars.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​has nothing to worry about with first-round pick Michael Penix Jr.

Or at least not yet.

As Falcons first-year coach Raheem Morris explained Saturday, the team’s $180 million signal-caller remains the team’s starter despite the difficult decision to use the eighth overall pick on Penix, who will have 28 years old when Cousins ​​is four years old. The one-year contract expires in 2028.

“We made a decision, this is what we plan to do,” said Morris, who replaced the fired Arthur Smith in January. And Kirk doesn’t have to look over his shoulder every time he throws a bad pass. As if that weren’t the case.

‘So, I know I’ll have to tell them once or twice that that’s not the case. We are here to win and we are here to win it all. “We are here to win everything we can win.”

Cousins ​​was reportedly “surprised” to see the Falcons select Penix on Thursday about a month after making him the team’s franchise quarterback.

Morris said he and Cousins ​​spoke Thursday about the situation, which he fears will cloud public perception of Atlanta’s offseason and 2024 draft.

And to make his point clear to football fans, Morris referenced a Kansas City Chiefs tight end who happens to be dating a popular singer.

“I hate that it’s like draft history,” Morris said. ‘I know it will be so. That’s how our world is based and moves, but I can’t say it’s annoying. No. Because it’s what people want to see; has sparked more interest.

‘What’s the name of (Travis) Kelce’s girlfriend? I feel like her right now. I guess I’m Taylor Swift and Terry is Kelce.

Cousins ​​and Penix have spoken on the phone, and while details of the conversation remain private, the former Washington star was encouraged by the discussion and appears to have accepted his backup role for the time being.

So why did the Falcons draft one quarterback a month after signing another for $180 million?

“He’s a remarkable arm talent when you see him throw the ball or when you hear him,” Morris said of Penix after personally serving as a linebacker in the quarterback’s private workouts. ‘And when you’re out there playing linebacker, he’s intimidating.

“The whole workout itself was overall a fun experience to watch him pitch, to see his arm talent,” Morris said. ‘…And to just be the linebacker…I could hear the ball go over my head. Sometimes he had top speed and sometimes I could get him on top of me where I couldn’t reach him.