Is Atlanta Making a Colossal Mistake with Their Quarterback Strategy?
Having a veteran backup quarterback in the NFL is a luxury across the league. Injuries to signal callers are unpredictable, and losing one during the season more than likely ends playoff hopes. Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins have proven this narrative multiple seasons. Having an experienced backup is crucial in case of injury or to help develop a young play caller. Since the beginning of 2024 offseason, the Atlanta Falcons have made quarterback moves that continue to leave their fanbase questioning the most important position group in sports.
On March 13th, 2024, the Atlanta Falcons signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a massive deal. The contract was a four-year, $180 million with a $90 million guarantee. At the time, Falcons fans fell in love with the signing since the team has been in quarterback purgatory since Matt Ryan left in 2022. Cousins is a highly productive, pocket quarterback who has led the formerly known Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs. Bringing him alongside talented young stars named Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and more, was viewed as a potential Super Bowl contending roster if Cousins came in healthy. During the 2023 season, Cousins tore his Achilles while playing at an All-Pro level for the Vikings.
The question mark for the Falcons organization during the 2024 NFL Draft. The team had the number eight overall pick in a very talented rookie pool. They would go on to select Washington Huskies’ gunslinger, Michael Penix. Penix had a list of lower body injuries but was known as the best pure thrower in that class. The decision to pick Penix came one month after the Cousins signing. This left the entire NFL world scratching their heads. Paying a quarterback high-end money along with investing a high draft pick during the same offseason is not a win-now move. At the time of the draft, Atlanta was in need of defensive players, particularly edge rushers. The team had the opportunity to select multiple first round edge rushers including standout Jared Verse, who went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Los Angeles Rams. Fans were in shock, media outlets blew up with headlines, and Cousins even stated that the team didn’t notify him of the decision to draft a quarterback in the first round until minutes before the selection.
Cousins was the clear starter to begin the 2024 season, being that his contract guaranteed him the day one start. The plan for Penix was to sit and learn behind Cousins for two or three years, then eventually take over after the Cousins contract expired. The plan with Cousins started beautifully, going 4-1 in the NFC South, and playing at the level his contract dealt. Mid-way through the season, Cousins began to decline dramatically. Cousins threw nine interceptions and just one touchdown during a five-game stretch that started Week 10 against the Saints. The team went 1-4 during that time and lost the division lead to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, essentially ending their season. The team announced in Week 16 that Cousins would be benched and Penix was the quarterback moving forward. Penix showed signs of his remarkable arm talent throughout his three starts and gave Falcons fans hope heading into the offseason that their quarterback for the future will one day be a winning quarterback like his days in Washington.
The Atlanta Falcons have had a busy offseason, managing the plan for Cousins moving forward. Trading or releasing Cousins is an expensive task, being that the team will still owe him $27.5 million in 2025 no matter where he plays. Cousins stated that his decline during the season was due to arm and shoulder injuries he sustained against the Saints, but he still believes he’s a starter in this league and playing as a backup isn’t his goal. Multiple sources believed the Falcons would release Cousins before the March 15th, 4:00 p.m. deadline. The Falcons did not do so, and he is now fully guaranteed his $10 million roster bonus which goes against their 2025 salary cap. The front office plans to keep Cousins as a mentor to Penix and to help develop his raw talent. Fans wonder if this is a tactic to bait quarterback needy teams to offer a high draft pick or player for the 36-year-old veteran. Keeping a disgruntled Cousins as a backup could turn out to have a negative impact in the locker room, even though he has displayed a model character throughout his 13 years in the NFL.
