The biggest surprise of the night came as a shock to players and fans alike.
When the Atlanta Falcons made the stunning choice to select QB Michael Penix Jr. eighth-overall, incumbent QB Kirk Cousins was reportedly “shocked” and “disappointed” by the pick, according to NFL Network’s Jane Slater.
The Falcons are only weeks removed from giving Cousins a big-time four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. That deal also comes with a no-trade clause.
When the veteran QB was asked about Atlanta’s choice to spend a valuable high pick on his potential replacement, he wasn’t exactly thrilled about having someone looking over his shoulder for the foreseeable future.
“It’s a business,” he said, according to NFL Network’s Slater.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the team called him to inform him that they would be selecting Penix there. He apparently knew that the team had planned to select a QB at the draft, but didn’t think it would happen in the first round.
Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney confirmed to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that the call from the Falcons came as a big shock to the veteran quarterback and his camp.
“Yes, it was a big surprise,” McCartney told Garafolo. “We had no idea this was coming. The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up. Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we herd. It never came up in conversation.
The Penix Jr. selection did indeed come out of nowhere. With three quarterbacks flying off the board in the first three picks, fans were left wondering when, who and to what team the next signal-caller would go.
Michael Penix Jr., from Washington, heading to the Falcons at eighth overall was certainly not the consensus choice.
“I’m not gonna say I knew it was coming,” Penix Jr. said to ESPN’s Marc Raimondi. “But I knew once the phone call came through.”
Following the first round, GM Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris were asked about the selection and said that they don’t expect to be picking that high again in the near future, so getting their guy now made sense.
“You don’t pass up that opportunity,” Fontenot explained, according to Fox 5 Atlanta’s Tori McElhaney. “Kirk Cousins is our quarterback. … With Michael Penix, we’re thinking about the future.”
It’s not to say he’s not talented. The 23-year-old QB had a stellar senior season for the Huskies, throwing for 1903 yards with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. But the context in which he’s being selected is certainly a shock.
He helped lead Washington to a 14-1 record, eventually losing to Michigan in the National Championship. He threw for 255 yards with one touchdown and two picks in the Final.
According to NFL Network’s James Palmer, the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders were all looking to trade into the top 10 to select Penix Jr., perhaps justifying the Falcons’ decision to hold steady.
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Cousins tore his Achilles midway through the 2023 season, forcing him out for the Vikings’ last nine games.
Over his six seasons in Minnesota, Cousins threw for 23,265 yards with 171 touchdowns and 55 interceptions. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times, with his last selection coming in the 2022 season.