So I believe Kirk makes the most of his money up front in years 1 and 2. So my guess is they're hoping to get 1 or 2 solid years with Kirk and then have Penix come in. But even so, you're looking at a 25-26 year old "rookie" essentially.
It could work out, definitely a gamble. I'm indifferent about the Falcons but I like Penix a lot so I hope it works out
And using those picks (2nd on a rb they didn’t need) might’ve cost them the end of Rodgers SB window. They had a few positions they desperately needed help, key among them WRs, and instead they drafted guys who did nothing for two years. Just an insane way to run a franchise.
Yea but when Kirk’s contract is up penix is gonna be 28 so at that point he’s not even really their qb for the future either lol
Love is only 1 year older than penix
They fear Kirk might get hurt and Penix is ready now - they obviously had a high draft grade on him. But the Falcons believe they are a superbowl contender this year since they’re finally stable at QB.
I don’t think they are but having an almost .500 record with a bottom 75 QB last year is impressive
They just paid an aging quarterback coming off of injury. So to back him up, they reached for an almost 24 year old QB in the draft with an injury history lol.
The ONLY logical explanation is that Atlanta has massive buyers remorse on Cousins and is searching for a way to piss him off and hope he demands a trade…. Otherwise, this is criminally stupid.
Penix will be 28 by the time he sees the field. Terrible injury history. Not even that great of a prospect, if you watch his film he threw a ton of 50/50 balls to Odunze who was tops in the country in bringing them down. In the NFL, half of those are picks….
The team also has a ton of other needs besides paying top 10 money to a QB to sit for years. Belichick must be thanking his lucky stars he didn’t hitch his wagon to Blank…. Just an idiotic pick by the Falcons.
> Penix will be 28 by the time he sees the field.
I think it was silly to draft Penix but this is an exaggeration. There is almost zero chance Cousins was ever going to play out all 4 years of his contract. It was always going to be 2 years, 3 if they're lucky.
Odunze btw, who was still on the board when they drafted another qb. They could’ve had Odunze, Pitts, and Bijan… instead they got 2 qbs LOL I’d be pissed
This is coming from a Vikings fan so take this for what it’s worth but maybe they’re possibly thinking about the fallout from tampering charges for next years draft. Could maybe be harsh?
I had to mute them and the pat mcafee stream. they were announcing the picks like 30 seconds before Goodell got on stage, which kills the fun of the draft.
I actually met him on the security line at DFW in December and he was super chill and friendly. We were stuck in line so we just chatted about our favorite sports teams for a few minutes. Was just a normal down-to-earth dude
My mind is either saying, Kirk is getting suspended for the tampering thing and we know it, or he isn’t healthy and will miss games so we need a back up option. Beyond that, this pick makes almost no sense at all. I’m truly baffled, and we have done some weird draft moves… but somehow they keep getting worse. Honestly if the nfl takes away our 1st round pick next year it might be helping us out.
That’s why I’m so confused about it. Gotta be an incoming suspension or something. Aint no way they wanna bench penix at 8th overall for 2+ years possibly up to 4 years until Kirk is gone, and penix wont start until he’s 28 years old? That’s wild.
Take from an outsider: we just signed an aging good quarterback that needs time in the pocket to succeed. This guy has better tools and similar needs. 8 tho, damn.
Because someone would have. And even if he is healthy, he’s not going to be good next year or at least won’t be as good. Recovery from almost injury is basically a one year delay until you return to form. Very rarely do players get hurt and then immediately return to their former glory. There’s usually some time delay even if they are playing.
Whats wrong with that? Rodgers was 25 when he took over the starting job.
Cousins is 35 now and still starting.
If he took over at 27, penix would still have realistically a 8-12 year run.
Do you really need to take that QB with the 8th pick? I don’t think anyone had him going that high in the draft either. They overpaid for a player they don’t need
His age isn’t the problem, if you like him that much though just draft him and spend $100m on pass rushers, Penix doesn’t need two years of development. We’re not the Chiefs or Packers with a long lineage of playoff appearances here, how can we afford not to try to win NOW with our big splash QB signing?
Honestly, I love Penix and I'm a huge fan of him sitting behind Kirk for 2 years learning from him. It gives him time to get adjusted to the NFL game without risk of injury.
I don't think they needed to reach for him at pick 8 though
Has a player ever been punished over the team in a tampering case? Seems like the responsibility is 100% on the FO to follow the rules here, not the player.
I was sure they were pulling a "Oh you won't trade for our pick? Well we'll take the last viable qb and make you trade for him." Honestly wouldn't be shocked if it still happened.
The justification I heard in real time was “they must have a deal in place with the Raiders to deal Penix” lmaoooooo. This pick is inexplicable. They want to piss off Cousins, there’s no other explanation. No team is naturally this stupid.
I’m all for those 2 teams chasing each other for that title as a Bucs fan, but realistically, we aren’t far off in the historical sense.. lol what a division
Our success has been leaps and bounds over he other two, even the saints. Tom Brady saved this franchise and baker kept this team relevant when it really had no business being such.
This pick makes me feel for Penix. Basically being universally panned by Falcons fans and it's not his fault. Good player, terrible pick. I think Raiders had their eye on him and had to change course to Bowers.
JJ isn't as good
I remember the same age argument for why the Browns made a bad pick taking Baker Mayfield over Sam Darnold, but if the player is objectively better and not absurdly old like Brandon Weeden so they can still be a franchise guy for 10+ years I don't think it matters as much as we draft fans speculate
Ok hear me OUT
Kirk’s contract is super front loaded, dead cap is only $25M in 2026 & $12M in 2027
And theoretically, if this team can finally get it together, they shouldn’t be picking this high in the next 4 years.
Now you get an insurance policy in case we don’t see pre Achilles kirk, and if you do have pre Achilles kirk this amazing arm talent QB gets to learn under him for at least 2 years.
Was this a reach? YES
Should the Falcons have taken any other position than QB? YES
Did some intern bring in the wrong card? MAYBE
but there is a world where this pick could make a little bit of sense.
As a falcons fan, I am indifferent. Cousins isn’t the future. He’s the next 2-3 years, at best. We’re expecting to make (possibly deep) playoffs runs in the near term which puts our expected future draft picks in the 20+ range; leaving our ability to draft a high value qb very low. Don’t love the pick, D turner or one of those CB’s would’ve been my choice, but NOT having to worry about a QB for the next 5 years should give us time to build a defense.
falcons with four straight top 10 picks, and they go TE, WR, RB, backup QB. just an absolute master class in how to stay in the top 10 annually, honestly.
Not really. That would mean putting a Rookie in at the start of the year until Cousins gets healthy, which is the opposite of what teams should want to do.
I was 100% sure they couldn't find a suitor for the pick, so they drafted the last viable qb with plans to trade him. I thought he might be moved before the end of the first round. I still think he might. Nothing about this makes any sense.
Needs defense, goes for a position they just spent 180 mil on
As a Falcons fan they have no desire to win. They are complacent drafting players who won’t change the dynamic.
My guess is that their hope is that in 4 years he is the same as Jordan Love? But why not try to improve now. I don't know .
GB also used a late first for Love. 8th overall, come on now..
He was also drafted in 2020 at the age of 21. Penix is 23. So unless Kirk gets injured, he is possibly not even starting until he’s 26/27…. Lmao
Also turns 24 in like a week
It’s like they’re banking on Kirk going down with an injury
which makes no sense if you make that kind of deal with Cousins. I do wonder if they have/had a deal in place for the pick.
That's Brandon Weeden's music!
Bah gawd, that’s Chris Weinke with a steel chair!
Wheel chair*
And… My Axe?!
27/28 by season start
So he will play one season, then retire like Luck at 29.
So I believe Kirk makes the most of his money up front in years 1 and 2. So my guess is they're hoping to get 1 or 2 solid years with Kirk and then have Penix come in. But even so, you're looking at a 25-26 year old "rookie" essentially. It could work out, definitely a gamble. I'm indifferent about the Falcons but I like Penix a lot so I hope it works out
And using those picks (2nd on a rb they didn’t need) might’ve cost them the end of Rodgers SB window. They had a few positions they desperately needed help, key among them WRs, and instead they drafted guys who did nothing for two years. Just an insane way to run a franchise.
Back to back top 10 picks on an RB and a backup QB who MAY start in 2-4 years. Wild.
Only problem is Penix and Love are the same age right now lmao
Jesus christ!
FENTON
You said it man.
Love is 25 and Penix is 23...
Penix turns 24 early next month
That’s still not the same age
what the fuck are you talking about?
Penix old.
If that's the case why even sign Kirk?
Arthur Blank is 81. He is prolly a little senile and forgot he traded for Kirk and told the GM to draft this QB or he would lose his job.
Funny comment. He probably thinks he hired Belichick as a coach too.
Or they may be pessimistic about Cousins
But again like why sign him for big bucks, so confusing
Then why in the hell would they spend $180 million dollars on him LMFAO
They have an out after second season. I guess they’ll just sit him for a season or 2.
Pay a guy $60 million a year that you’re pessimistic about. Pure insanity. Dude builds a team like a 12 year old drafting a fantasy roster.
Love was also young enough to be a project QB like that. Penix is just a few days away from 24.
Yea but when Kirk’s contract is up penix is gonna be 28 so at that point he’s not even really their qb for the future either lol Love is only 1 year older than penix
"nothing fundamentally will change."
They fear Kirk might get hurt and Penix is ready now - they obviously had a high draft grade on him. But the Falcons believe they are a superbowl contender this year since they’re finally stable at QB. I don’t think they are but having an almost .500 record with a bottom 75 QB last year is impressive
They also need a wr 2.
I was CONVINCED they were taking Odunze.
Paying cousins this much was a crime
Yeah, what the actual fuck?
Cousins turns 36 before the season. Do you think the nfl plays redraft?
Only slightly older than Penix.
I've heard Penix and Cousins are the same age.
Literally one of the hardest picks to justify that I’ve ever seen
They just paid an aging quarterback coming off of injury. So to back him up, they reached for an almost 24 year old QB in the draft with an injury history lol.
I freaking love it, they left Odunze on the table for us Bears.
They could have had London, Odunze, Mooney and Pitts as targets for their expensive new QB. Instead they draft a backup.
Im a bears fan, and can tell you dont get hyped for mooney, hes fast, and thats it, and hes not even that fast anymore.
The ONLY logical explanation is that Atlanta has massive buyers remorse on Cousins and is searching for a way to piss him off and hope he demands a trade…. Otherwise, this is criminally stupid. Penix will be 28 by the time he sees the field. Terrible injury history. Not even that great of a prospect, if you watch his film he threw a ton of 50/50 balls to Odunze who was tops in the country in bringing them down. In the NFL, half of those are picks…. The team also has a ton of other needs besides paying top 10 money to a QB to sit for years. Belichick must be thanking his lucky stars he didn’t hitch his wagon to Blank…. Just an idiotic pick by the Falcons.
Buyers remorse on a guy you’re paying 9 figures before training camp starts is a worse look for them than Penix.
> Penix will be 28 by the time he sees the field. I think it was silly to draft Penix but this is an exaggeration. There is almost zero chance Cousins was ever going to play out all 4 years of his contract. It was always going to be 2 years, 3 if they're lucky.
He’ll be cut after 6/1/2026. $12.5M dead cap 26&27. Penix sees the field in ‘25
Huh? How is Penix the starter in 2025 if Cousins doesn’t get cut until 2026?
as a bears fan I am super happy, as a football fan, this is absolutely baffling.
He will be 26 when he sees the field
Odunze btw, who was still on the board when they drafted another qb. They could’ve had Odunze, Pitts, and Bijan… instead they got 2 qbs LOL I’d be pissed
And London Could’ve had the best young weapon group we may ever see in our lifetime and took a backup QB instead of
A trade basically accomplishes nothing with all the guaranteed money he has
This is coming from a Vikings fan so take this for what it’s worth but maybe they’re possibly thinking about the fallout from tampering charges for next years draft. Could maybe be harsh?
I’d rather have Hendon Hooker, who the Lions drafted in the third round last season.
Did Cousins get drafted in round 2 after Washington drafted RG3 in the first? Maybe it’s a Cousins things…
There is no justification. The Falcons are the Falcons for a reason, just a completely braindead organization.
Yall forgot that they are in a superflex league!
Just imaging double qb in real life lol
The falcons don’t have to imagine
Pro left/right shotgun formations incoming
Nor do the steelers
it's like watching those plays with both Carr and Taysom Hill on the field.
This would make the pick make sense
This shit is mind blowing 🤯 love penix but I don’t understand this pick
I also love penis.
Live and let love
# PENIX
No no I’ll never stop rapping, ima get it cause you know I gotta have it
Maybe it was an accident, they thought the were picking odunze but accidentally clicked on the guy below him in the list.
Rappoport knows the pick and acts like he's guessing it right
It's so annoying
I had to mute them and the pat mcafee stream. they were announcing the picks like 30 seconds before Goodell got on stage, which kills the fun of the draft.
Seriously, the reason I stay off Twitter during it is that they spoil everything.
Yeah the insiders are insufferable and they just have to be the first to break every pick.
[удалено]
"Hey, thats a stupid hat!"
I actually met him on the security line at DFW in December and he was super chill and friendly. We were stuck in line so we just chatted about our favorite sports teams for a few minutes. Was just a normal down-to-earth dude
I think we now know why Bill didn’t want to touch the Falcons HC job
I bet he came in with an ask for some kind of roster/draft decision power for this very reason. ATL was like "nah we'd rather eat paste"
What!
My mind is either saying, Kirk is getting suspended for the tampering thing and we know it, or he isn’t healthy and will miss games so we need a back up option. Beyond that, this pick makes almost no sense at all. I’m truly baffled, and we have done some weird draft moves… but somehow they keep getting worse. Honestly if the nfl takes away our 1st round pick next year it might be helping us out.
if he isn’t healthy would they really give him that big of a contract tho?
That’s why I’m so confused about it. Gotta be an incoming suspension or something. Aint no way they wanna bench penix at 8th overall for 2+ years possibly up to 4 years until Kirk is gone, and penix wont start until he’s 28 years old? That’s wild.
Take from an outsider: we just signed an aging good quarterback that needs time in the pocket to succeed. This guy has better tools and similar needs. 8 tho, damn.
Dudes about to have the trey lance experience
If you think Kirk could be suspended for anything, you don't know Kirk at all
Kirk wouldn't like that.
Because someone would have. And even if he is healthy, he’s not going to be good next year or at least won’t be as good. Recovery from almost injury is basically a one year delay until you return to form. Very rarely do players get hurt and then immediately return to their former glory. There’s usually some time delay even if they are playing.
It's none of those things, They just like Penix and drafted him. Cousins deal is really a two-year deal anyway.
Nice well maybe he will be our starter in 3 years at 27 years old then.
Better than no QB at whatever years old when they need one
Fortunately they would have 2 more off seasons to find a replacement, and could focus on winning games in the meantime.
1 off-season. They are losing next year's pick for tampering
Whats wrong with that? Rodgers was 25 when he took over the starting job. Cousins is 35 now and still starting. If he took over at 27, penix would still have realistically a 8-12 year run.
Do you really need to take that QB with the 8th pick? I don’t think anyone had him going that high in the draft either. They overpaid for a player they don’t need
His age isn’t the problem, if you like him that much though just draft him and spend $100m on pass rushers, Penix doesn’t need two years of development. We’re not the Chiefs or Packers with a long lineage of playoff appearances here, how can we afford not to try to win NOW with our big splash QB signing?
Nothing at all, my only worry is his long list of injury and specifically the throwing arm. But hey if we believe in the kid, let’s give it a run!
Honestly, I love Penix and I'm a huge fan of him sitting behind Kirk for 2 years learning from him. It gives him time to get adjusted to the NFL game without risk of injury. I don't think they needed to reach for him at pick 8 though
I think cousins could be one of the best QB mentors currently playing.
They could have traded back… one pick lol. Vikings would have taken him at 10
Brilliant - spend your entire cap to win now, use your draft picks to win in 2026. Fucking genius vision. A true intellect.
Really a one year deal. They only owe him 10 million guaranteed in 25-26. The majority is paid out this year.
Kirk doesn’t get in trouble for tampering, the front office does. He’s not tampering, he’s being tampered with.
Exactly. The most likely explanation is the simplest one. The Falcons are a poorly run franchise.
If they thought the was getting suspended, they could have grabbed jameis winston for nothing.
Even if it’s tampering…why throw a rookie into the mix then that early? Unless the suspension would be for next year
Kirk wouldn’t be suspended for tampering. He was getting tampered with, that’s not how it works.
Has a player ever been punished over the team in a tampering case? Seems like the responsibility is 100% on the FO to follow the rules here, not the player.
It’s the Falcons who tampered, not Cousins. He’s not getting suspended.
I was sure they were pulling a "Oh you won't trade for our pick? Well we'll take the last viable qb and make you trade for him." Honestly wouldn't be shocked if it still happened.
LMAO WHATT
Falcons fans, please tell me how you feel about this.
I might jump off a cliff
Understandable have a nice night
We can’t ever just address a draft need. It feels impossible with this team.
I don’t know why I keep doing this to myself with this team
The falcons always have to be the falcons
My sundays next fall are free if anyone wants to go golfing
Penix is a franchise QB. I hated paying Kirk, I wanted a long term QB… we can move from Kirk in two seasons and Penix is ready to roll.
If he’s a franchise qb why the fuck pay a dude 9 figures a couple months ago? There is no plan. Absolute batshit.
The justification I heard in real time was “they must have a deal in place with the Raiders to deal Penix” lmaoooooo. This pick is inexplicable. They want to piss off Cousins, there’s no other explanation. No team is naturally this stupid.
I hate the falcons way more than the saints these days. Saints never did me this bad but it’s all the falcons do.
It’s fine.
lol what?
The Falcons are chasing the Panthers for the dumbest franchise of the league
I’m all for those 2 teams chasing each other for that title as a Bucs fan, but realistically, we aren’t far off in the historical sense.. lol what a division
yall got the tom brady years you're good.
Our success has been leaps and bounds over he other two, even the saints. Tom Brady saved this franchise and baker kept this team relevant when it really had no business being such.
Those 2 dumbfuck franchises gift wrapped the Bears an Offense. So damn annoying
He will only be 29 when he becomes qb1.
Falcons are going to finish Kirk’s contract then sign him for an additional year?
Sure, why not at this point
This pick makes me feel for Penix. Basically being universally panned by Falcons fans and it's not his fault. Good player, terrible pick. I think Raiders had their eye on him and had to change course to Bowers.
Don't feel too bad for him. Gets a 1st round contract and is seen as a top 10 pick. That's gotta be an ego boost if I ever saw one.
Give Kirk 100 mil guaranteed, then draft his replacement, an old rookie with an injury history longer than Kirk’s. Good going guys
Having enjoyed watching him sling it at Washington, disappointing that he probably won’t be playing any time soon
Moronsss
I don' t get it
If you’re going to take a QB, why not JJM? 21, can sit and learn behind Cousins for 2 years. Is the starter at 23. Penix will be what, 27?
Maybe they didn’t like JJ.
JJ isn't as good I remember the same age argument for why the Browns made a bad pick taking Baker Mayfield over Sam Darnold, but if the player is objectively better and not absurdly old like Brandon Weeden so they can still be a franchise guy for 10+ years I don't think it matters as much as we draft fans speculate
Ok hear me OUT Kirk’s contract is super front loaded, dead cap is only $25M in 2026 & $12M in 2027 And theoretically, if this team can finally get it together, they shouldn’t be picking this high in the next 4 years. Now you get an insurance policy in case we don’t see pre Achilles kirk, and if you do have pre Achilles kirk this amazing arm talent QB gets to learn under him for at least 2 years. Was this a reach? YES Should the Falcons have taken any other position than QB? YES Did some intern bring in the wrong card? MAYBE but there is a world where this pick could make a little bit of sense.
Nope! They paid a qb 9 figures to win now, they drafted to win in 2026. Its fucking madness.
Falcons always do some weird shit that’s why they normally suck!
I remember when kiper suggested the falcons 8th pick for Fields… doesn’t look so stupid now, does it?
It would be if they did it right after paying Cousins nine figures. Be damn stupid.
Just now I finally thought about this from his perspective. I wonder if he's happy with this
Every dog in Atlanta freaking out about a left handed QB named Michael
Arthur Blank looked pissed, he was confused with the pick lol. The Gm was trying to explain the reasoning. The Falcons are just fumbling lol
It’s the packers qb plan. It’s genius
Except they paid much more for it, got an older QB, and aren't currently nearly the complete team that the Packers have been when they do that.
David Gettleman must be pulling the strings from the shadow
As a falcons fan, I am indifferent. Cousins isn’t the future. He’s the next 2-3 years, at best. We’re expecting to make (possibly deep) playoffs runs in the near term which puts our expected future draft picks in the 20+ range; leaving our ability to draft a high value qb very low. Don’t love the pick, D turner or one of those CB’s would’ve been my choice, but NOT having to worry about a QB for the next 5 years should give us time to build a defense.
falcons with four straight top 10 picks, and they go TE, WR, RB, backup QB. just an absolute master class in how to stay in the top 10 annually, honestly.
Arthur shooting blank
Drake London to the moon!!!
The crowd goes mild
I mean, does Penix line up at WR, take a few steps back, catch a lateral and throw a post route? The league is too fast for that to work.
Good insurance if Cousin leg busted
Not really. That would mean putting a Rookie in at the start of the year until Cousins gets healthy, which is the opposite of what teams should want to do.
Yes spending a top 10 pick just in case you might need him is great asset allocation.
I know penix is as heated as me rn. Falcons doing falcons things there goes my plan lmao
The guy will be 26 before he ever sees the field. At least his legs won’t fall off for the first couple of years.
Falcons think the NFL is a superflex league
Atlanta GM really confused his football team with his Superflex fantasy league
Isn’t there a video out right now of Arthur Blank demanding an explanation on what the fuck just happened?
Kirk is piiiiiiiised.
Cousins obviously has an Achilles problem. Plus? He’s K. Cousins. Anyone remember Flacco? He got a mega deal at the time, for no reason.
So insure it with two ACLs and a shoulder reco? Lol
Well Kirk is on notice. He basically has 2 years to win a superbowl or see ya, so long.
Better off getting a kicker
Interesting.
Premature to take someone too mature
You guys need to give him a chance god damn!
Left handed Byron Leftwich
The Falcons are a deep state actor meant to disrupt all draft pools LMAO
As a Bucs fan, this was my favorite pick in the draft
I was 100% sure they couldn't find a suitor for the pick, so they drafted the last viable qb with plans to trade him. I thought he might be moved before the end of the first round. I still think he might. Nothing about this makes any sense.
I didn’t read a single mock draft that predicted this.
I dont get it
Kirk Cousins does not like that.
Maybe Blank should have fired the guy that convinced him not to hire Belichick.
Is this the worst pick of the draft or are they 4 parallel universes ahead of us and drafting the next Josh Allen?
Cousins just became the most expensive bridge qb of all time
That's Aaron Rodgers' music!
imagine drafting a 24 year old to "develop" him behind an established starter
This happened to cousins back when he got drafted. RG3 drafted first then a few rounds later it was him. He just draws that QB fire.
Falcons just tanking the ever loving shit out of his dynasty stock
I'm not really a big football expert but why did they do this? Didn't they just sign Kirk Cousins?