Analyst thinks Michael Penix Jr. should be mad at Falcons

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt is among those who believe quarterback Michael Penix Jr. should be upset with the Atlanta Falcons after the Falcons made Penix the eighth pick of the 2024 NFL Draft even though the club signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M guaranteed early in free agency. 

According to Sam Neumann of Awful Announcing, Klatt explained during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" that Penix should "be more furious than even Kirk Cousins" about the situation considering Penix turns 24 years old next month and has a lengthy injury history. 

Specifically, Penix tore his right anterior cruciate ligament twice and dealt with injuries to both shoulders over four college seasons.

"I got myself to Washington and had these two amazing years," Klatt said about Penix's final college campaigns. "I’m an older guy. What’s more valuable in the NFL? Being drafted in the top 10 or getting a second contract? Getting a second contract. How does Michael Penix get on the field to prove himself ready for a second contract? Now, when’s his second contract going to be? I just don’t understand." 

Per Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot insisted he'd be comfortable if Penix served as a backup for "four or five years." Such a timeline could account for all of Penix's rookie contract. 

While Cousins turns 36 years old this summer and is coming off a torn Achilles he suffered on Oct. 29, he likely never envisioned last month that he could be replaced atop the Atlanta depth chart as soon as next year. 

Kendall mentioned that Atlanta would accrue only $25M in a dead-salary cap penalty if the club released Cousins after the 2025 season. 

As for Penix, ESPN's Mina Kimes suggested ahead of this past weekend that the rookie should want to play sooner rather than later because of his age. Klatt indicated that Penix potentially could make things uncomfortable for the Falcons this spring and summer. 

"If I was Michael Penix, I don’t know how quickly I would sign," Klatt added during his chat with Eisen. "I don’t know how quickly he would force the issue, but I want to play…I’m so thankful I’m in the top 10, but what in the world?"

There's currently no sign that Penix will cause any problems for the Falcons anytime soon. If, however, Cousins looks past his prime this fall, Penix could quickly become the most popular quarterback on the Atlanta roster among fans.