The Atlanta Falcons are making a move they didn’t want to make by immediately replacing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins with rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris announced the decision in a statement released by the team Tuesday night.
“After review, we have determined that Michael Penix Jr. will be the starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons going forward,” the statement said. “This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.”
The statement came less than four hours after Morris hinted at the move during his regular press conference the day after the Falcons beat the Raiders 15-9 in Las Vegas to improve to 7-7.
“We didn’t play particularly well from the quarterback position,” Morris said. “That’s the problem that needs to be solved.”
Penix was drafted eighth overall by the Falcons in April. It was a surprising move at the time, considering the organization signed Cousins to a four-year free agent deal last month, guaranteeing the 13-year veteran $90 million in salary over the first two seasons and a total potential value of $180 million. .
The plan at the time was to keep Penix behind Cousins for at least another year, and Morris remained hopeful that he could stick to that plan until recently. The head coach hired in January repeatedly referred to Penix as “the future” and said the Falcons are committed to their “plan” at the position.
“When I see organizations that let young people go too early, it gets so bad that I don’t want to be that person,” Morris said last week. “I know the plans I have and what I want to do for that young man.”
But Cousins’ final five games convinced the Falcons they could no longer stick to the plan. He has thrown nine interceptions and one touchdown during that span, and ranks 33rd in the league in expected points added per dropback (minus-.14). When Morris told the quarterback Monday night that he needed to play better, Cousins responded, “That’s obvious.”
“I don’t think it’s a mystery,” he said after passing for 112 yards. “Every week you go through the process and come up with a plan to go out and play the best you can. This week will be no different.”
Morris said Tuesday that he didn’t see any physical issues with Cousins that “jumped off the page.” The 36-year-old is back this season from a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his 2023 season after eight games.
“Part of it is a natural progression of erosion through the football season,” Morris said of Cousins’ emergence in the pocket.
Cousins’ start to the season made it look like Atlanta’s long-term plan would work. He ranked fourth in the league in passing yards (2,328) and touchdowns (17) and seventh in EPA per dropback (.15) through Week 9, with the Falcons competing with a two-game lead in the NFC South.
But from there, Atlanta lost four straight and fell behind Tampa Bay (8-6) in the division as Cousins floundered. The Athletic’s projections give the Falcons a 23% chance of winning the division and a 31% chance of making the playoffs.
“Kirk has brought us to a point of contention,” Morris said last week. “You must be determined to maintain a solid relationship with someone you trust. I don’t want to be like some organizations that make harsh decisions when their employees make mistakes. It’s our job and my job to ensure the highest level of certainty so he can go out and play better. He’s going to run here and get away from this.”
But he didn’t, and now the Falcons are turning to Penix, a former University of Washington quarterback who led the Huskies to the national title game last season and is a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist. What the Falcons do with Cousins from here is an open question. According to Over the Cap, releasing him after this season would cost the team $65 million in dead money. If they return him to a starting role or retain him as a backup during the 2025 season, they could cut him after that season and the dead cap hit would be only $25 million.
The Falcons could also try trading Cousins this offseason. The Raiders, Titans and Giants are expected to draft a quarterback, but may also be interested in bringing in a veteran to help with the transition. The Saints, Panthers and Jets could also change.
Cousins’ record of success will give him some value on the trade market despite this season. He ranks 17th in EPA per dropback (-.05). But his time in Atlanta ended, and not in the way anyone imagined.
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(Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)
