Even seasoned quarterback Kirk Cousins found himself caught off guard by the Atlanta Falcons' selection of Michael Penix Jr. as the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. According to Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, the quarterback was taken aback by Atlanta's decision to draft a quarterback in the first round.

This revelation follows reports from Dianna Russini of The Athletic, who indicated that while Cousins understood the Falcons' consideration of drafting his success

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Cousins recently signed a lucrative four-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Atlanta's choice to draft Penix came as players like Rome Odunze and Olu Fashanu remained available.

Penix, the fourth quarterback selected in the draft, showcased impressive stats in 2023, throwing for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns while leading Washington to a 14-1 record and a CFP National Championship appearance. 

However, concerns linger over his age and injury history, having endured multiple ACL injuries during his collegiate career.

Nevertheless, Penix could potentially benefit from learning behind Cousins for a few seasons, akin to Jordan Love's tenure behind Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay before assuming the starting role.