Kirk Cousins, the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, was given a harsh awakening by the Atlanta Falcons, his new team. With the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft, they chose quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
The Vikings traded up to choose J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick after informing Cousins that they would choose a quarterback.
A major factor in Cousins’ decision to leave Minnesota was that heads-up.
Stories about his feelings in Atlanta keep coming out. Also gaining traction is the theory that Cousins left Minnesota because of their plans. There are also doubts over the possibility that it has anything to do with the cousins’ desire to assist in molding his successor.
Matt Holder of Bleacher Report stated on May 11 that “it’s hard to deny two different reports on similar topics, even though questions could arise if Atlanta’s decision really got under the veteran’s skin.” “It’s pretty evident that Cousins has no desire to develop a young quarterback to take his place in the future.”
Holder advises people to “buy” into the notion that Cousins’ departure was prompted by the Vikings’ intentions to select a quarterback, whether McCarthy or not.
He cites Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated’s article about Cousins’ departure from Minnesota.
The Vikings were quite upfront with the 35-year-old about the prospect that, even in the case he stayed, they’d choose a quarterback of the future high in the draft, which is why Cousins made the decision to depart Minnesota, Breer reported on May 6. When he combined that with the team’s willingness to partially, but not entirely, guarantee a second year on a new contract, Cousins calculated the likelihood that, should he stay, he would likely be playing somewhere in 2025.
“Even though it meant he was leaving, I know Cousins appreciated how transparent the Vikings were about their draft strategy.”
Holder also cites a report detailing the opinions of Cousins’ agent.
“Talked to Kirk Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel said on X on April 25. “He added that Cousins was only informed by phone when the team was on the clock about the Falcons’ decision to select Michael Penix. He had recently inked a $180 million, four-year contract, the first two of which are guaranteed in full.
“Cousins’ camp is naturally frustrated and perplexed because they didn’t use the pick to benefit the squad in 2024. Rather than having him don a Falcons helmet, they drafted his eventual replacement beforehand.
Cousins is prepared to proceed and is aware of the football industry’s business practices. However, it made sense that they were surprised.
Clearing the air with Penix, Cousins demonstrated the leadership his old colleagues had talked about.
