Falcons' Kirk Cousins - Beef over Michael Penix Jr. not helpful - ESPN

Kirk Cousins says he doesn't believe it's constructive to have hard feelings with his new team over its surprising draft pick.

Cousins, the productive veteran quarterback, signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in March. Last month, the team stunningly took a quarterback — Michael Penix Jr. of Washington — with the No. 8 pick in the draft.

Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN's Pete Thamel at the time that there was confusion and frustration coming from Cousins' camp since the Falcons acquired his successor before he even put on an Atlanta helmet and the team didn't do anything with its top-10 pick to improve for 2024.

Cousins spoke for the first time about the situation in an interview with the «Bussin' With The Boys» podcast that published Tuesday. When asked whether there was any beef with the Falcons over drafting Penix, Cousins said, «I don't think there can be.»

«I don't think it's helpful. We're trying to win a Super Bowl, and it's hard enough. It's hard enough. Let's all be on the same page and try and go win a Super Bowl.»

Cousins, 35, said three years ago that he was golfing on draft night when he played for the Vikings. Klint Kubiak, then the Vikings' offensive coordinator, called him and told him that Minnesota might draft a quarterback. So, Cousins said, he has «understood for a while» that teams are always thinking of succession plans.

«This isn't, like, a foreign concept,» Cousins said. «There's an awareness that this is the NFL, anything can happen.»

The Falcons start OTAs this week after rookie minicamp last week. Cousins' 2023 season ended in Week 8 when he tore his right Achilles tendon. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Friday that Cousins is able to be «pretty much full go»