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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Guardian sport and agencies

‘We got no heads up’: Kirk Cousins surprised by Falcons’ Penix Jr selection

Kirk Cousins Falcons Michael Penix Jr NFL Atlanta Washington JJ McCarthy Mike McCarthy Terry Fontenot FBS
Michael Penix led all of FBS with 4,903 passing yards in 2023.
Michael Penix Jr led all of FBS with 4,903 passing yards in 2023. Photograph: David J Phillip/AP

The Atlanta Falcons provided the shock of the first round of the NFL draft by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr with the No 8 overall pick on Thursday night.

The Falcons extended their recent trend of selecting offensive skill players in the first round by drafting Penix one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180m contract with $100m guaranteed. Using a draft slot normally targeted for players expected to make an immediate impact, the Falcons picked Penix as the apparent long-term successor to the 35-year-old Cousins. The Falcons had been expected to use the pick to boost their pass rush.

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