The Atlanta Falcons are making the transfer they clearly didn’t need to make – changing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins with rookie Michael Penix Jr. beginning instantly.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris introduced the choice Tuesday night time in a press release launched by the crew.
“After evaluate now we have made the choice Michael Penix Jr. would be the Atlanta Falcons beginning quarterback shifting ahead,” the assertion learn. “This was a soccer choice and we’re totally targeted on getting ready the crew for Sunday’s recreation towards the New York Giants.”
That assertion got here lower than 4 hours after Morris had hinted on the transfer throughout a often scheduled information convention the day after the Falcons improved to 7-7 by beating the Raiders 15-9 in Las Vegas.
“We didn’t play notably properly on the quarterback place,” Morris mentioned. “That’s the factor that’s received to be addressed.”
Penix was drafted eighth by the Falcons in April. It was a shock transfer on the time contemplating the group had signed Cousins to a four-year free-agency deal the earlier month that assured the 13-year veteran $90 million in wage the primary two seasons and had a complete potential price of $180 million.
The plan on the time was to sit down Penix behind Cousins for at the least a yr, and Morris had been holding out hope as not too long ago as final week that he may stick to that plan. The pinnacle coach, who was employed in January, repeatedly referred to Penix as “the longer term” and mentioned the Falcons have been dedicated to their “plan” on the place.
“You’ll be able to have a look at organizations which have put younger guys on the market too early, and it’s gone horrible and I don’t need to be that man,” Morris mentioned final week. “I do know the plan that I’ve and what I need to do for that younger man.”
Nonetheless, Cousins’ final 5 video games satisfied the Falcons they might not stick with the plan. He threw 9 interceptions and one landing in that span and ranked thirty third within the league in anticipated factors added per dropback (minus-.14). When the quarterback was advised Monday night time that Morris mentioned he wanted to play higher, Cousins replied, “It’s stating the apparent.”
“I don’t assume that’s a thriller,” he mentioned after passing for 112 yards. “Each week you undergo your course of and plan to go on the market and play the perfect you may. This week will probably be no completely different.”
Morris mentioned Tuesday that he didn’t discover any bodily points with Cousins that “bounce off the web page.” The 36-year-old returned this season from a ruptured Achilles tendon that ended his 2023 season after eight video games.
“A few of it’s pure progress of abrasion by a soccer season,” Morris mentioned of Cousins’ look within the pocket.
The begin to Cousins’ season made it appear like Atlanta’s long-term plan was going to work. He was fourth within the league in passing yards (2,328) and touchdowns (17) and seventh in EPA per dropback (.15) by Week 9, and the Falcons raced to a two-game lead within the NFC South.
From there, although, Atlanta misplaced 4 straight and fell behind Tampa Bay (8-6) within the division as Cousins floundered. Based on The Athletic’s projections, the Falcons now have a 23 % likelihood to win the division and a 31 % likelihood to make the playoffs.
“Kirk received us into some extent of rivalry,” Morris mentioned final week. “You need to have the resolve to remain steady-handed with a man you imagine in. I don’t need to be like some organizations that make harsh choices in your individuals after they make their errors. It’s our job and my job to again him on the highest degree of certainty to get him to get on the market and play higher. He’s going to return out of this factor, and he’s going to go on a run right here.”
He didn’t, although, and now the Falcons are turning to Penix, the previous College of Washington quarterback who led the Huskies to the nationwide title recreation final season and twice was a Heisman Trophy finalist. How the Falcons deal with Cousins from right here is an open query. It could price them $65 million in lifeless cash in the event that they launched him after this season, in line with Over the Cap. In the event that they maintain on to him by the 2025 season both in a return to the beginning function or as a backup, they might lower him after that season and incur solely a $25 million lifeless cap hit.
The Falcons may additionally try and commerce Cousins this offseason. The Raiders, Titans and Giants are anticipated to draft a quarterback however may also be interested by bringing in a veteran to assist the transition. The Saints, Panthers, and Jets may additionally make adjustments.
Cousins’ observe document of success will give him some worth on the commerce market regardless of this season, through which he stands seventeenth in EPA per dropback (minus-.05). Nonetheless, his time ends in Atlanta, this isn’t how anybody envisioned it.
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(Picture: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Photographs)
