Tag: Kirk Cousins

Breaking: Falcons select QB Michael Penix Jr at No. 8 overall

Breaking: The Atlanta Falcons selected Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL draft

That’s a stunner. Is stunner the right word? The Atlanta Falcons have decided to select Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

Despite signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract this offseason, the Falcons still decide to take a quarterback that will be 28 years old when that deal expires.

It’s not that Penix isn’t a good player, it’s just that it is a head-scratcher of a pick given their needs and even potential to be a contender. Instead of building up their defense, they take someone that truthfully might never see the field for them.

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2024 NFL draft: Falcons pick Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8, ending Seahawks’ hopes

This move comes as a massive surprise, especially considering the four-year contract Atlanta just gave Kirk Cousins.

And so our watch ends. After several months of hype and hope about Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. staying in Seattle to play with the Seahawks, the dream has come to an end.

With the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Falcons picked Penix.

This move comes as a massive surprise, especially considering the four-year contract Atlanta just gave Kirk Cousins in free agency (worth $180 million total). The Falcons had been almost universally expected to pick an edge defender or an interior rusher.

Our best guess is that the Seahawks will be picking a defensive back at 16 if they don’t trade down. Iowa’s Cooper DeJean and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold are the most popular 11th hour names attached to Seattle.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Everything we know about Seattle going into 2024 NFL draft

Expectations for all 14 NFL teams picking ahead of Seahawks

Best fits for the Seahawks at every position in the 2024 class

Robert Griffin applauds the Commanders’ GM Adam Peters

Robert Griffin III with some good analysis on the Commanders this time, concerning Adam Peters and the No. 2 pick.

Robert Griffin III believes his being the second overall pick by Washington in 2012 is impacting the decisions the Commanders will make in Thursday night’s draft.

Griffin, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner at Baylor, was chosen second overall by Washington in the 2012 draft, in which Washington traded three first-round selections (2012, 2013, 2014) and a second-round pick (2012).

A guest on the “Rich Eisen Show” Tuesday, Griffin saw his choice as analogous to Jayden Daniels for Washington Thursday night.

“Where did Adam Peters come from?” asked Griffin. He came from San Francisco. What did San Francisco just deal with two years ago? They had a highly drafted quarterback in the first round, and they had the last pick in the draft, which they used to pick Brock Purdy.”

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Now, Trey Lance, in all fairness to him, didn’t get a chance to play because he was hurt and didn’t get a chance to show that he could be that guy. But Brock Purdy was the last choice in the draft, was a guy’s guy. The whole team gravitated towards him. And I feel like Adam Peters was just trying to get a sense, which one of these quarterbacks do the guys gravitate towards?”

Griffin said that outside of Caleb Williams, the other quarterbacks are all athletic and very similar in ability. Griffin expressed that because there previously was such criticism of Washington, people still automatically wondered what they were doing last week, having all four quarterbacks in at once for a group activity.

“I would say, Rich, the highlights are on the film, but the character isn’t. The organization in Washington is just trying to find the right character guys to build a team around, and I actually applaud them for that. Because character is not really something the team has been associated with for the past twenty years.”

“So, I want fans to understand. If you create a negative environment for a guy like Jayden Daniels coming in, it’s only going to breed more negativity once he’s drafted.”

“I hope they just give these guys a clean slate, whoever Washington decides to take. It’s their decision; it’s who they believe in. I want that for them. The situation with me and Kirk Cousins in Washington in 2012 was a situation where the owner and the head coach were fighting against each other.”

“You don’t want that to be repeated. So, whoever they believe in, go draft that guy…I just believe, Rich, that Jayden is the best guy for them.”

Aside from Griffin presenting that he was a victim in 2012, this was actually his best interview regarding Washington in some time.

Eagles penalty for allegedly tampering with Saquon Barkley won’t come during 2024 NFL draft

The league’s review into tampering allegations against the Falcons and Eagles is ongoing and will not conclude this week during the draft

The Eagles and Falcons will both likely receive penalties for tampering during the NFL free agency period, but according to Adam Schefter, that resolution won’t happen before or during this weekend’s draft.

Cousins has admitted that he communicated with Atlanta’s athletic trainer and head of public relations before the NFL’s new league year.

Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings to sign a four-year, $180 deal with the Atlanta Falcons, and Barkley left the New York Giants to join Philadelphia on a three-year, $37.8 million contract.

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During an interview prior to free agency, Barkley’s college head coach at Penn State, James Franklin, referenced the star running back and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman speaking on the phone during the legal tampering period.

Schefter previously reported that discipline is coming soon, with the punishment likely harsher for the Falcons, given Cousins’ on-the-record statement.

The Dolphins lost their 2023 first-round draft choice and a 2024 third-rounder for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton thrice from 2019 through 2022. Miami owner Stephen Ross was fined $1.5 million, and team vice chair and limited partner Bruce Beal received a $500,000 fine.

Kansas City lost their 2016 third-rounder and a 2017 sixth-round choice for tampering with former Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in 2015. The Chiefs were hit with a $250,000 fine, and new head coach Andy Reid ($75,000) as well as then-general manager John Dorsey ($25,000) were also fined.

Adam Schefter: ‘Resolution coming soon’ in Kirk Cousins tampering case

According to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, the NFL could come down with punishment for the Atlanta Falcons this week in their tampering case.

The NFL draft starts on Thursday, and the event could be in for a big shakeup. And no, we’re not talking about the Minnesota Vikings trading up for a quarterback — for once. Instead, we’re talking about a former Vikings quarterback, Kirk Cousins, and the league’s tampering investigation centered on his signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league could conclude its investigation and hand down the punishment as early as this week, which could have an effect on the first round of the draft. There is precedent for the league to take away a team’s draft picks for tampering.

The Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick in last year’s draft, along with a third-round pick in this year’s draft, in two separate tampering cases involving former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and former Saints head coach Sean Payton. That punishment was handed down in August 2022.

Before that, the league stripped the Kansas City Chiefs of a third-round pick in 2016 and a sixth-round selection in 2017 for their tampering with former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in 2015.

In both cases, members of the coaching staffs and/or front office personnel received fines in addition to the draft pick forfeitures. Schefter reports that there are some sources who believe that the punishment for the Falcons is “likely to involve draft picks” and “is expected to be more severe.”

However severe the punishment winds up being, it’s probably unlikely the league would grant the Minnesota Vikings any compensation despite rumors that Minnesota could be granted the Falcons’ selection, which is currently No. 8 in Thursday’s first round.

Falcons could be punished for tampering allegations ahead of draft

The Falcons could be punished for tampering allegations with QB Kirk Cousins ahead of this week’s draft

While NFL teams will never openly admit to it, tampering is rampant around the league ahead of free agency. However, teams rarely get caught because players are usually smart enough to keep their mouths shut about any illegal contact with the coaching staff or trainers.

Apparently, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins didn’t get the memo. During his introductory press conference, Cousins admitted to talking with the team’s head athletic trainer before he was technically allowed to.

“There’s great people here,” said Cousins during his intro presser. “And it’s not just the football team. I mean, I’m looking at the support staff. Meeting, calling yesterday, calling our head athletic trainer, talking to our head of P.R.”

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Cousins’ comments quickly drew the attention of the NFL, who began an investigation into Atlanta for tampering. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Falcons could be punished as soon as this week:

The NFL’s investigation into alleged tampering charges against the Falcons for their involvement with then-free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Eagles for their involvement with then-free-agent running back Saquon Barkley is ongoing and could reach a conclusion as early as this week, per sources. Sources believe the discipline, which is likely to involve draft picks, is expected to be more severe for the Falcons. — ESPN’s Adam Schefter

Could Atlanta potentially lose a first-round pick? Schefter highlighted other recent tampering cases for reference.

The Dolphins lost a first-round pick in 2023 due to tampering with head coach Sean Payton and QB Tom Brady. The Chiefs were fined a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick for tampering with free-agent WR Jeremy Maclin back in 2015.

The Falcons were happy to land Cousins in free agency but if the 35-year-old’s loose lips wind up costing the team a first-round pick, it likely won’t sit well with fans. The first round of the 2024 NFL draft kicks off on Thursday in Detroit, Michigan.

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1st-round mock draft

Falcons 7-round mock

Kick Cousins jokingly couldn’t believe how fast his Falcons teammates roasted him for being a corny dad

The Falcons are ruthless.

With his presence alone, Kirk Cousins gives the Atlanta Falcons legitimacy they haven’t had in years. If the veteran can continue giving Atlanta borderline top-10-level production, the Falcons might even be an understated Super Bowl contender.

All of this is well and good. And the Falcons certainly should appreciate their new quarterback. But that doesn’t mean they’ll hold back any (probably warranted) roasts of their new franchise player.

In a tweet on Monday, Cousins mused about how an unspecified Falcons teammate told him he gave off “Dad vibes” in the lunch line. While that’s probably brutal to hear for a 35-year-old who’s only spent a few weeks with his new team … are they wrong?

Cousins’ entire essence is corny dad. This is not necessarily a bad thing because being a corny dad is essentially a rite of passage in our society. It’s a badge you wear proudly while polishing up your dad jokes and solid white New Balance shoes. But it’s still so funny that Cousins’ Falcons teammates already see him in this light, and they haven’t even played a single game together.

Talk about a guy living up to his reputation.

The Athletic: Fans want Vikings to trade up for a quarterback

According to a recent survey from The Athletic, Minnesota Vikings fans overwhelmingly prefer a trade up for a quarterback in the NFL draft.

The 2024 NFL Draft is just two weeks away, and the big question looming for Minnesota Vikings fans is: How is the team going to address the quarterback situation? The team signed former Jets, 49ers, and Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold in the offseason, but he’s not the long-term solution at the position. So, what is the best way for the team to find that solution?

According to a survey of Vikings fans from The Athletic, nearly 75 percent want to see the Vikings trade up in the draft to take their quarterback of the future. Whether it’s for Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, or J.J. McCarthy, the fanbase overwhelmingly approves of the team making a bold move to secure the most important position in football—if not all sports.

The article, written by Alec Lewis, further breaks down the quarterback choices, with nearly 40 percent of the over 3800 respondents preferring a trade-up (sending picks 11, 23, and 2025 first) for former North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye.

The fanbase’s second choice is former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, with just over 23% of respondents saying they would trade picks 11 and 23 and a later-round pick to land McCarthy. Interestingly, that option is less than 3% more than those who would prefer the team to keep their assets, stay at 11 (or later at pick 23), and take former Washington quarterback Michael Penix, Jr.

Perhaps the most interesting tidbit from the survey is just how many—or how few, rather—of the respondents wish the team had paid to keep Kirk Cousins in Minnesota for at least one more season. Not even 2% of the respondents said that the team should have paid for Cousins.

Formern Commanders DE James Smith-Williams signs with Falcons

Smith-Williams’ departure makes it official. The book on the 2020 NFL draft is closed in Washington.

In the latest free agent signings, James Smith-Williams has departed the Commanders to join the Falcons on a one-year deal.

Drafted in the seventh round (No. 229) in the 2020 draft by Washington, the former North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end played four seasons for the Burgundy and Gold.

When Chase Young went down in 2021 with a season-ending knee injury, Smith-Williams noticeably improved the Commanders defense for the remainder of the season. His defense against the run proved to be a contributing factor to the team winning four consecutive games when he entered the lineup.

He started the last six games of that 2021 season, recording 30 tackles (11 solo, 19 assisted), including four for a loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, and five additional QB hits.

Smith-Williams started 14 games in the 2022 season, contributing 23 tackles (12 solo, 11 assisted), including five tackles for a loss, three QB sacks and 16 QB hits.

In his final season (2023) in Washington, injuries limited him to 13 games (7 starts), 22 tackles (11 solo, 11 assists), two tackles for a loss, one quarterback sack, and eight quarterback hits.

Here are highlights from his last two Washington seasons.

When the 2024  free agent signing period launched in March, the Commanders new administration determined to sign Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr. both defensive ends who had played for new head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas.

Then, the Commanders signed Clelin Ferrell, a former 49ers defensive end, whom new GM Adam Peters knew from his time as the assistant general manager in San Francisco.

The Commanders had also determined, this offseason, to re-sign Efe Obada over Smith-Williams. Obada has played both inside and outside on passing downs, accumulating 15 career sacks in his 74 NFL games played.

A couple of things are noteworthy. New Falcons free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins has the same agent as Smith-Williams (Priority Sports & Entertainment), and current Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith was with Washington and ran the draft board during the 2020 draft, Ron Rivera’s first with Washington.

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins explains why he didn’t take Kyle Pitts’ number

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins explains why he didn’t switch jersey numbers with TE Kyle Pitts

When the Atlanta Falcons introduced quarterback Kirk Cousins, he was asked about potentially switching jersey numbers with tight end Kyle Pitts. Cousins, who’s worn the No. 8 for his entire career, said Pitts was willing to part with it in exchange for “targets.”

While the story initially excited fans about the upcoming season, Cousins chose the No. 18 instead. This left fans wondering why the number swap with Pitts never happened. Thanks to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, we finally have an answer.

During an episode of Shaq’s “The Big Podcast,” Cousins explained that while Pitts agreed to give the jersey number up, the NFL stepped in with an additional requirement.

“Then the league spoke into it,” explained Cousins. “They were like ‘Well, Kyle Pitts has a lot of jerseys that are No. 8 with Pitts on the back. You would have to buy every single one.'”

Cousins estimated the price of buying the remaining jerseys to be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Even after signing a four-year, $180 million contract in Atlanta, the price ultimately wasn’t worth it to the Falcons QB.

Hopefully, Cousins isn’t superstitious. Watch his full interview on “The Big Podcast,” as shared on YouTube below: