Kirk Cousins recently revealed he may have remained with the Minnesota Vikings had he known the Atlanta Falcons were planning to draft a quarterback in the first round. In the newly released season of Netflix’s Quarterback, Cousins spoke candidly for the first time about his reaction to Atlanta selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Falcons had just signed Cousins to a $100 million guaranteed deal weeks earlier, suggesting they viewed him as their long-term starter. The unexpected draft move led Cousins to feel “a little bit misled,” especially since he wasn’t informed of the decision until a last-minute phone call from the offensive coordinator while the team was already on the clock.
Cousins Regrets Not Knowing Draft Plans, Played Hurt to Keep Starting Role
Cousins noted he had some awareness that the Falcons could draft a quarterback, but did not expect them to select one so early. He emphasized that, had he known both the Vikings and Falcons would take quarterbacks high in the draft, it might have swayed him to stay in Minnesota, where he and his family were happy.
The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy at No. 10. Reflecting on the situation, Cousins acknowledged the harsh reality of the NFL: players aren’t owed anything and must constantly prove themselves to retain their roles, regardless of contract size or veteran status.
Kirk Cousins (NFL)After a promising 6-3 start to the season with Atlanta, Cousins suffered a hard hit to his right arm in Week 10, which significantly impacted his play. Although initially believing it was just standard pain, Cousins later realized the injury was more severe than he had thought.
He was listed on the injury report only once after the incident, but his performance dipped drastically—eight interceptions and zero touchdowns over four consecutive losses marked the worst stretch of his 13-year career. Despite the pain, Cousins continued to play, worried that sitting out might cost him his starting job.
Fear of Replacement Drove Cousins to Play Through Injury Despite Long-Term Consequences
Cousins admitted on Quarterback that his reluctance to rest and recover came from a fear of being replaced. He referenced Drew Brees’ philosophy of not letting backups see the field, drawing parallels to the idea of being “Wally Pipped,” a term stemming from the baseball player who lost his spot permanently to Lou Gehrig.
Cousins explained that he made the best decision he could with the information available at the time, but hindsight suggests rest may have been the better move for his health and performance.
Eventually, the Falcons benched Cousins in Week 16, giving Penix the opportunity to start. While Penix showed promise, the team still missed the playoffs. Many believed Atlanta would release Cousins in the offseason, but the team instead picked up his $10 million bonus in March, keeping him on the roster—likely as a high-priced backup.
Falcons GM Terry Fontenot stated that Cousins holds more value on their roster than playing elsewhere, especially with $27.5 million already guaranteed. Cousins, though disappointed, is trying to face the situation with professionalism, stating, “It hurts to go into work… but you got to be a grown man and handle it with maturity.”
