Kirk Cousins' time as an Atlanta Falcon appears to be ending before it ever really started. After struggling immensely at the quarterback position in 2023, the Falcons made it a priority to sign the former Minnesota Vikings quarterback in free agency. 

Yet despite giving Cousins a 4-year, $180 million contract, Atlanta still sought stability at the quarterback position and proceeded to draft WASHINGTON HUSKIES quarterback Michael Penix Jr. a month later in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

This has set the Falcons up with a complicated quarterback situation that mirrors the Green Bay Packers a couple of years ago with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. 

In theory drafting Penix made sense given that Cousins is coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon injury and is 36-years old. It’s no guarantee that Cousins will return to playing at a high level. 

Even if he does return to form, the Falcons would have needed to think about a long-term answer at quarterback in the next couple of years. The difference in these situations is unlike Love at the time, Penix looks ready to start right now. If Cousins goes down due to injury, Penix will take the starting job and not give it back.  

Penix was always considered a more mature and seasoned product coming out of Washington at 24 years old. His ability to not be phased by pressure in the pocket and get the ball out quickly is what will help him learn and develop at a faster rate than most rookie quarterbacks. According to Ted Nguyen of the Athletic, Penix had the third lowest pressure-to-sack rate (7.6 percent) among qualifying passers in 2023. 

His incredible deep ball passing skills will also help him transition to the NFL.

Most quarterbacks struggle with accuracy and precision on long passes as they enter the NFL. With Penix, this was his greatest strength, and the early reviews out of training camp have shown that it still is.

An offensive nucleus of Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Darnell Mooney, and Kyle Pitts also has more weapons than most rookies not named Caleb Williams have at their disposal. London and Pitts give him big, bodied receivers in the red zone. 

Robinson is a multi-faceted do-it-all, running back that can be a safety blanket for Penix in the run and passing game. Mooney is the type of speedy, shifty receiver who will be a beneficiary of Penix’s dynamic deep ball passing. London could also be a factor in this area, although he doesn’t possess the same type of speed and explosiveness that Mooney does. 

There will likely be some growing pains with Penix, such as timing and getting rid of the ball too quickly. Despite this, his upside greatly outweighs these issues. As for the Falcons playoff chances with Penix, it's not unreasonable to think they could clinch a postseason berth. 

Outside of the reigning NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta wouldn't have much competition to win the division. The New Orleans Saints haven’t been a legit threat since Drew Brees retired and the Carolina Panthers are still in the early stages of a rebuild. 

Outside the division is a different story with the likes of the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, AND Chicago Bears the main teams considered to be in position for the playoffs. However, Atalanta can be viewed as either equal to or just behind the Cowboys, Rams, and Bears in terms of talent. 

It’s still early in training camp, but everything that is coming out about Penix looks promising. All it takes is for Cousins to go down once for Penix to become this year's version of CJ Stroud for the Atlanta Falcons.