Why Michael Penix Jr., not Kirk Cousins, should be pissed about Falcons' quarterback situation

The Atlanta Falcons made a shocking move by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in last week’s NFL Draft. Kirk Cousins was recently brought on board with a four-year, $180 million contract and Penix Jr. is older for his draft class, turning 24 next week.

While many people are saying that Cousins should be upset by the team surprisingly drafting a quarterback, perhaps it should be the other way around.

Danny Parkins and Andrew Fillipponi of the Audacy Sports Podcast “1st & Pod” explained why it should be Penix, not Cousins, who is angry about the quarterback situation in Atlanta.

“I’m giving out an F for the Atlanta Falcons. Dude, it doesn’t make any sense,” Parkins said. “Everyone’s talking about how Kirk Cousins should be pissed. Kirk Cousins got $100 million guaranteed.”

“No, it’s Penix who really has the right to be angry,” Fillipponi interjected.

“Absolutely,” Parkins exclaimed. “Penix is old, coming off injury. He is ready to play. Kirk Cousins is going to start. Kirk Cousins chose the team that he was going to. Kirk Cousins gets to play in a dome with a good defense in a winnable division and throw to Bijan Robinson and Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

“Is he going to be that much happier if Byron Murphy is on the team? He’s probably going to be a little happier. This probably puts a little bit more heat on Cousins.”

The only real possibility Penix has of playing is if Cousins struggles or gets injured. However, the veteran quarterback should have no reason to struggle with the weapons in the Falcons offense.

“He’s not going to struggle. If Kirk Cousins is healthy he is not going to struggle because Kirk Cousins will know the offense, he’ll get the ball out quick, he’s an accurate player,” Parkins continued. “Kirk Cousins is a top 12 quarterback in the world. He’s not going to struggle if he’s healthy.

“Kirk Cousins gets $100 million and goes to the team that he wants. He’s fine. Michael Penix, when is he going to play? It’s an insane thing to do.”