Falcons GM Suggests Michael Penix Jr. Could Sit '4 or 5 Years' Behind Kirk Cousins

The Atlanta Falcons are fully sold on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. but are prepared to wait for him to eventually take the reins of the offense.

"If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him," general manager Terry Fontenot told reporters. "And if he sits for four or five years, that's a great problem to have because we're doing so well at that position. So, it's as simple as, if you see a guy you believe in at that position, you have to take him."

The Falcons pulled off the biggest stunner of the 2024 NFL draft so far, selecting Penix with the No. 8 pick. The move came roughly a month-and-a-half after they signed QB Kirk Cousins to a massive four-year, $180 million contract.

Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN's Pete Thamel that "there is frustration and confusion coming from Cousins' camp because Atlanta did not use its first-round pick to make the team better in 2024."

The four-time Pro Bowler is recovering from a major Achilles injury and, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, was under the impression the Falcons might add another QB. He didn't expect it to be so early, though.

Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris declined to go into detail when asked how Cousins reacted to the news:

Fontenot and Morris made a gutsy call and the GM hit on something important. If you're sold on a player that much and feel history will prove you correct, then you have to take him. Not many people remember the context around the Portland Trail Blazers passing on Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft; they only remember the Blazers picking Sam Bowie over the greatest player in basketball history.

But Fontenot undercut himself when he suggested there's a possible future where Penix languishes on the bench for four or five years.

This is a player who's turning 24 in May, so in theory, he's going to be pushing 30 when he gets his first real chance to start. In addition, the advantage of drafting a quarterback is that you get multiple years of cost control at the most expensive position in the league. Those benefits won't be there for Atlanta if Penix is the backup for the majority of his rookie deal.

Fontenot may have wanted to assure the fanbase the Falcons front office knows exactly what it's doing. His press conference immediately after the first round probably didn't accomplish that.