Kirk Cousins was left “shocked” when the Atlanta Falcons selected fellow quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as the eighth pick in the NFL draft. The Falcons left their intentions disclosed until they made their pick, with Cousins’ agent noting that the Penix pick came as a “big surprise”. "We had no idea this was coming. The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up. Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we heard. It never came up in any conversation," said Mike McCartney, Kirk Cousins' agent. According to The Athletic, Atlanta tried to notify Cousins while they were on the clock; however, the 35-year-old was left “disappointed”. The Falcons recently acquired Kirk Cousins during free agency, with the veteran quarterback signing a four-year, $180 million contract. The contract includes $90 million in guaranteed money; therefore, the Falcons could get out of it in two years if they wanted to proceed with Penix. Cousins is coming off an Achilles injury that saw him most of the 2023 season, ending his six-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings.

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