Final yr was a weird one for the Atlanta Falcons. Believing they have been a quarterback away from successful the NFC South, the staff signed Kirk Cousins, who had missed a lot of the earlier season recovering from an Achilles tear. The deal was important: $180 million over 4 years.
Then, a month and a half later, the Falcons used the No. 8 choose within the draft to pick Michael Penix Jr., who had simply reached the Faculty Soccer Playoff championship sport with the Washington Huskies. In fact, the notable difficulty with that choice is that Penix additionally performs quarterback, and the Falcons had loads of different areas on the staff they might shore up.
It was a perplexing transfer on the time. The Falcons simply paid all this cash to Cousins. Why would they select one other quarterback? Atlanta mentioned it deliberate to have Cousins begin and have Penix acquire expertise studying from the veteran. For some time, that deliberate work. However because the season wore on, issues started to unravel for Cousins.
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By 4 straight video games, he did not document a single landing move. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris named Penix the starter earlier than the staff’s Week 16 sport, with the playoffs nonetheless very a lot a risk. Penix received his first sport, although the Falcons misplaced the ultimate two of the season and fell wanting the postseason.
In the meantime, Cousins ended the yr with a career-high in interceptions (16) and tied his career-high in fumbles (13). Heading into this season, the Falcons have dedicated to Penix as their beginning quarterback.
As organized staff follow actions (OTAs) received underway for the Falcons, Cousins has not appeared. That is sometimes a non-issue—Cousins has been within the league for a very long time and would not want the preparation that a few of the youthful gamers do. Nonetheless, in a league that is at all times involved about optics, his absence is noticeable.
Different NFL groups want quarterback assist and will very effectively commerce for Cousins. For now, he is far and away the most costly backup within the league. A few of his contract was paid by way of a $50 million signing bonus final season, and he’ll make $27.5 million this season.
The closest competitors when it comes to wage is Daniel Jones, who the Indianapolis Colts signed to a one-year contract this offseason. Jones will make $14 million, although he is anticipated to compete for the beginning job with Anthony Richardson.
To discover a quarterback who we all know is coming into the season as a backup, let’s head to the Washington Commanders and Marcus Mariota. The longtime sign caller is the clear No. 2 behind Jayden Daniels. Mariota will make $8 million in wage this yr—Cousins is incomes practically three-and-a-half instances that a lot cash. Even the highest backups over the previous couple of a long time have not come near Cousins’s earnings.
It is a captivating state of affairs throughout. Because the offseason retains going into the summer season, we anticipate Cousins to point out up for coaching camp and different actions nearer to the beginning of the season. Whereas it would damage to take a seat on the bench, making $27.5 million within the course of ought to assist soften that blow.