Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot made a splash this offseason by signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract, including $100 million guaranteed.
On Thursday night, Fontenot generated even bigger headlines -- and incurred a bit of scorn and mockery on social media -- by selecting former Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in this year's NFL draft.
With the 8th pick in the 2024 @NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Michael Penix Jr.!#NFLDraft: NFLN, ABC, ESPN pic.twitter.com/o99tXbilG5
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) April 26, 2024
The choice reportedly left Cousins "shocked" and "disappointed."
It was a risky and unexpected pick, to be sure. But several circumstances, including recent NFL history at the quarterback position, could help justify the move.
Cousins, of course, had good reasons to feel staggered by the Penix selection.
First and foremost, having signed a lucrative contract, the 35-year-old quarterback no doubt expected the Falcons to commit to putting together a team that could compete and win immediately rather than building for the future.
From this perspective, a player like wide receiver Rome Odunze -- Penix's former teammate at the University of Washington, selected one pick later at No. 9 overall by the Chicago Bears -- would have made more sense for Atlanta.
Then there was the matter of keeping Cousins out of the loop.
On the social media platform X, Jane Slater of the NFL Network reported that the veteran's shock and disappointment stemmed in part from the Falcons' silence and alleged deceptiveness regarding their intentions.
"Never said anything to him or his reps about a QB in 1st round despite suggesting they would," Slater said, citing an unidentified source.
As we all sit in shock over the Atlanta pick, a source tells me Kirk Cousins just as “shocked” and “disappointed” Never said anything to him or his reps about a QB in 1st round despite suggesting they would. Still “it’s a business”
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) April 26, 2024
Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network confirmed that Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, did not expect the Penix pick.
From Kirk Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney on the #Falcons’ selecting QB Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. pic.twitter.com/XpIpOQn1ua
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 26, 2024
Then there is the matter of Penix's injury history, as well as the fact that by NFL rookie standards, he is no spring chicken.
As Bleacher Report noted, he endured multiple ACL injuries as a collegiate quarterback. He also will turn 24 before this year's NFL season.
All of these factors led to criticism of the Falcons on social media.
For instance, Clay Travis of OutKick called the move "total idiocy."
Giving Kirk Cousins $100 million and drafting Michael Penix is absolutely nonsensical. Total idiocy by the Falcons.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 26, 2024
Former NFL superstar and current CBS in-studio analyst J.J. Watt also questioned the move, albeit more charitably.
Falcons publicly said they weren’t interested in Lamar Jackson last offseason. (Just won his 2nd MVP)
This offseason signed Kirk Cousins to a $180M deal AND drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the #8 pick.
Either guy could potentially turn out to be great for them, but that is WILD.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) April 26, 2024
The GhettoGronk account on X mocked both Penix's age and the money apparently wasted on Cousins.
Michael Penix Jr. by the time Kirk Cousins’ contract expires and he can finally start pic.twitter.com/6JlxetZcXp
— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) April 26, 2024
The Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr. after they just gave Kirk Cousins $180M pic.twitter.com/wNTiUis7te
— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) April 26, 2024
Many others chimed in.
Genuinely considering canceling my season tickets. Why is Terry picking a 24 year old, injury prone QB5 when we just signed Cousins and have the worst pass rush in the league??????? Awful, awful pick
— Bring Back the Atlanta Flames (@eakatz123) April 26, 2024
