Kirk Cousins ​​was “stunned” to see the Falcons pick Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, a month after Atlanta signed the 35-year-old QB to a $180 million contract on four years.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​was “a little stunned” to see the team take fellow forward Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth pick in the NFL draft, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Reports from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and others have since confirmed Cousins’ surprise at the move.

The Falcons continued their recent trend of selecting offensive players in the first round by drafting Penix a month after signing Cousins ​​to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. Using a draft slot normally intended for players expected to make an immediate impact, the Falcons selected Penix as the apparent long-term successor to the 35-year-old Cousins.

The Falcons were expected to use this pick to increase their pass rush.

The Falcons have also focused on offensive playmakers with their last three first-round picks. Tight end Kyle Pitts was the No. 4 overall pick in 2021, followed by wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, each No. 8, the last two years.

Michael Penix Jr. finishes his sprint at NFL Pro Day in Washington

Penix, who will be 24 as a rookie, led FBS schools with 4,903 passing yards and was third with 36 touchdown passes. He won the Maxwell Award as the best player in the country.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said this week that he would consider selecting a quarterback at the top of the draft, even though most outside attention was on edge rushers.

“If we see a player that we think can be a franchise quarterback at any time, whether it’s this draft, the next draft, whether it’s a player we can trade for, whatever it is, you need to bring in “We’re talking about the next four to five years and more when we’re talking about the guys we draft,” Fontenot said.

“It’s like when we talk about any other position, like you said, you can say it’s a surplus now, but it can become a major need in the future. I think because of that and the magnitude of the spin and the impact of that position, you always have to be ready to bring in players.

The Falcons’ draft will not be affected by the NFL’s investigation into the team’s possible violation of tampering policies before signing Cousins, who appeared to indicate he had been in communication with team officials at a time when the team would have been allowed to speak only with their proxy.