Kirk Cousins says Falcons "misled" him a little by drafting Michael Penix Jr. on Netflix's Quarterback - "I had no reason to leave Minnesota"

Atlanta Falcons v Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Source: Getty
Kirk Cousins misled about Michael Penix Jr.

Kirk Cousins is being featured once again on Netflix's Quarterback series. He was one of the three quarterbacks followed in Season 1, along with Patrick Mahomes and Marcus Mariota, and is included in Season 2 with Joe Burrow and Jared Goff.

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One of the most intriguing storylines in Season 2 surrounds the Atlanta Falcons' decision to draft Michael Penix Jr</a>. despite having already signed Cousins during the free agency period last year. This situation was addressed during the first episode, and Cousins made some interesting comments about how it all played out.

"I wasn't expecting us to take a quarterback," Cousins said. "At the time, it felt like I'd been a little bit misled, or certainly if I had the information around free agency, it would have affected my decision. I had no reason to leave Minnesota with how much we loved it there, if both teams are going to be drafting a quarterback high."
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Kirk Cousins described that one of the main reasons he decided to leave the Minnesota Vikings was that he wanted a more stable role as a starting quarterback. The Vikings apparently informed him that they were likely to take a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft and did so by selecting JJ McCarthy.

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Cousins said that this situation contributed to his decision to join the Atlanta Falcons, where he believed he would have job security. This is why he stated that he felt misled as the franchise selected Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick. It took less than one year for the rookie to surpass the veteran on their depth chart, leaving Cousins as an expensive backup.

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Mike Florio chimes in on Kirk Cousins being "misled" by Falcons

Penix and Cousins
Penix and Cousins

Mike Florio weighed in on the Atlanta Falcons' situation surrounding Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. in an article for Pro Football Talk. He warned other quarterbacks to take notice of how Cousins was treated when he decided to depart the Minnesota Vikings.

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Florio stated:

"You never know what that team is going to do with its first-round pick. You never know how different the offense is going to be until you're in it."

In addition to the Falcons' decision to draft Penix, Cousins also said he struggled a bit to learn the new offensive system that included much more pre-snap motions than what he was previously used to. Florio referenced this situation, which had a direct influence on a game-losing fumble in Week 1 resulting from a Ross Dwelley pre-snap motion and incorrect snap call by Cousins.

Falcons Nation! Check out the latest Atlanta Falcons Schedule and dive into the latest Falcons Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

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Edited by Adam Hulse
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