Michael Penix Jr. details private chat with Kirk Cousins before Falcons minicamp

Kirk Cousins told Michael Penix Jr. he was happy to have the rookie quarterback on the Atlanta Falcons .

Earlier this offseason, Cousins ended a six-year spell with the Minnesota Vikings by entering free agency and signing with the Falcons. He inked a four-year deal worth up to $180 million to head to the NFC South where he is set to pilot a dynamic offense featuring the likes of Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson.

However, the Falcons front office stunned fans as they spent the eighth overall pick on Penix - Cousins’ replacement - rather than someone who can tangibly help the team win in 2024. Penix, the former Washington signal-caller who led the Huskies to the National Championship game, is a talented quarterback but the decision to draft him undoubtedly caught Cousins off guard.

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The Falcons reportedly called Cousins to explain the pick while on the clock and it seems the veteran is ready to move forward. Atlanta general manager Terry Fontenot has re-iterated the move has nothing to do with Cousins’ health, but rather act as the long-term successor given his age.

On Friday, Penix revealed the two met and chatted briefly before the start of rookie minicamp. The 24-year-old told reporters: “He said he was happy to see me and have me here, and I just told him I can't wait to work with him.”

While head coach Raheem Morris has played down the decision and insisted Cousins is the starter, calls for Penix to be inserted into the lineup may be made if the veteran struggles early into the season. Heading into his first season with the Falcons, Cousins is set to build a relationship with the fans under immense pressure especially coming off an Achilles tear.

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Across eight appearances in the 2023 regular season, Cousins threw for 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns while tossing just five interceptions. He also logged a rating of 103.8, with Cousins perhaps playing the best football of his career before going down with his season-ending injury.

The Falcons are in phase two of their offseason program, which means no contact and slower run throughs, while Cousins does not have many limitations. Morris issued an update as rookie minicamp got underway. "Kirk is every day improving," he told reporters.

"So, we are kind of right at the point where he's doing everything that we can do at this point at phase two, right? Which is nobody around him. There's no contact. He's all good with all those types of things. So, he's been doing all those things."

He added: "We'll limit what he does as far as the amount, not necessarily what he's doing when it comes to what we are at and what we're able to do right now. It’s not like training camp where I'm worried about people being around his feet, because the pace is so slow and... we feel really good about where he's at right now."