Have you ever wondered what happens when a frustrated quarterback’s agent speaks out about their team’s draft decisions? Well, get ready for some football drama! Kirk Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney recently revealed the quarterback is frustrated and confused over the Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr. and not using their number 8 pick to bolster the team in 2024.
Kirk Cousins’ agent expressed that the quarterback feels frustrated and confused by the Falcons’ decision not to utilize the number 8 pick effectively in 2024. The failure to bolster the team with a promising selection left Cousins questioning the team’s strategy.
Cousins‘ agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that the Falcons did not tell the quarterback they would pick Penix until the team was on the clock. McCartney said there is frustration and confusion coming from Cousins’ camp because Atlanta did not use its first-round pick to make the team better in 2024.
Instead, the Falcons used their selection on Cousins’ apparent successor before he even played for the team. McCartney said Cousins understands the business of football and is ready to move on, but there was indeed surprise about the Falcons’ decision.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris said Cousins’ reaction would remain private.
“He got called on the clock, obviously because of the sensitive time with the issues of what you got going on,” Morris said. “It’s never a right time to talk to a quarterback about those things. And reactions are always going to be private when it comes to those things, unless Kirk decides to tell you some of those things that are whatever they may be. But he’s a competitor, just like us all. And you can always expect those things to go just like you kind of think.”
Morris said they believe the Falcons are primed to win now, which means they would not get another shot at drafting a quarterback of the future this high in the draft.
“These are not easy decisions. These are tough decisions,” Fontenot said. “But that’s who we’re thinking about. We’re thinking about the fans. We’re thinking about this organization. We’re going to build a sustained winner. We’re going to win for a long time. That’s the most important position in football.”
Penix said he was surprised when he got the call telling him he was the pick.
“I’m not going to say I knew it was coming,” Penix said. “But I knew once the phone call came through.”
Penix, 23, emphasized that he is preparing to learn from Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler.
“He’s been in the league,” Penix said. “He’s been in there for a while. He’s played a lot of football. I feel like I’m going to come in and I’m going to learn. I’m going to learn from him.”
Penix was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy last year and won the Maxwell Award after leading Washington to a 14-1 record and an appearance in the national championship game, where the Huskies lost to Michigan.
The left-handed Penix led the FBS with 4,903 passing yards in 2023 and was second in the FBS in 2022 (4,641). He is the first player with 4,500 passing yards or more in two straight seasons since Patrick Mahomes did it in 2015 and 2016 for Texas Tech.
Kirk Cousins’ agent expressing frustration over the Falcons’ draft decision has sparked a whirlwind of reactions from fans and media alike. The impact on the team’s strategy and future implications are clear. As the confusion continues, remember that sometimes, even the best-laid plans can lead to unexpected outcomes.
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