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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins finally broke his silence on the team's decision to select former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first-round of the 2024 NFL Draft just one month after signing him to a massive contract.
"I think you're reminded again that there are things you control, and there's a lot of things you don't control," Cousins said during an appearance on Barstool Sports' Bussin' With The Boys podcast. "So let's deal in reality and recognize that fact, and then be a steward, not an owner. So I just believe that I gotta steward what comes my way and control what I can control, which is what a steward does, but a steward doesn't worry about that which they can't control. An owner does, an owner would be like, 'Oh my goodness.' So I just gotta steward this and just kinda do what I've always done as a player and let the chips fall where they may."
The Athletic's Dianna Russini previously reported that the Falcons called Cousins, 35, prior to selecting Penix, 24, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, just before making the pick, which reportedly left the quarterback "stunned."
"The Falcons called Kirk Cousins when they were on the clock to let him know. From what I learned, Cousins understood a QB would be considered but he did not believe his successor would be taken in the first round. I’m told he’s a bit stunned," Russini wrote on her X account.
ESPN's Adam Schefter said was part of the team's long-term plan, despite its recent investment in Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million last month.
Cousins, who spent the past six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in October, but shared clips of his remarkable recovery earlier in the offseason, after undergoing successful Achilles surgery on November 1. The 35-year-old threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns on 23 of 31 passing prior to exiting the Vikings' October 29 win against the Green Bay Packers due to his season-ending Achilles injury.
Cousins entered Week 3 with the third-most passing yards (2,057) and second-most passing touchdowns (16) among all NFL quarterbacks.