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The Atlanta Falcons’ plan this offseason was surprising to many. They signed Kirk Cousins with a huge contract and then picked Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Confusing, right?
Most people thought it made no sense to sign Cousins and draft Penix in the same offseason. But Penix showed why he was picked by playing really well in his preseason debut. He completed nine out of 16 passes for 104 yards, even though he wasn’t throwing to the team’s top players.
Penix’s performance raises questions about how safe Cousins’ job is. I mean, could one bad game cost him his spot? Some folks think so, but others say it’s an overreaction. After all, Cousins is one of the top quarterbacks and just got a $100 million deal from Atlanta.
Instead of worrying, Falcons fans should listen to what Iain MacMillan said on the Stacking the Box podcast: “If something happens to Kirk Cousins our season isn’t over.”
Penix has shown he can be a great backup quarterback right away. So if Cousins gets hurt, fans can feel confident that Penix can step up and keep the season alive. The Falcons have a plan for Cousins to be their quarterback for a few more seasons unless something drastic happens like a long-term injury.
The hope is that by 2026, Penix will take over as the starting quarterback. Based on his preseason debut, there’s reason to believe he’s capable. He might even help win some games if needed before then.
But for now, it’s still Cousins’ job no matter how well Penix performs in preseason games.