Kirk Cousins focused on leading Falcons, not worried about outside noise heading into 13th NFL season

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell joins Colin Cowherd to discuss how now-Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins helped him "become the coach [he] is today."

Kirk Cousins had himself quite the offseason, which included continued Achilles rehab and finding a new home in the NFL. 

Cousins ended up finding that home down South as he joined the Atlanta Falcons on a four-year pact worth $180 million with $100 million guaranteed. 

But all the talk about what Cousins would do as the new leader of the Falcons' offense stalled a bit when the franchise drafted Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall, easily viewed as the most surprising pick of this year's NFL Draft. 

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Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins (18) and Michael Penix Jr. of the Atlanta Falcons look on during OTA offseason workouts at the Falcons training facility on May 14, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Talk then moved to how the pick would sit with Cousins, if there was a quarterback competition to come in training camp, and much more speculation from the football world.

However, Cousins spoke to Fox News Digital about how his focus was on leading this Falcons team through this new era, which includes Raheem Morris as head coach.

"You just control what you can control," Cousins said while also discussing his relaxation plans on his Manitou pontoon boat before training camp begins. "I have a lot of work, I have a full plate. When I get up in the morning, and when you move to a new city, you’ve got all new teammates to get to know both on the field, what their strengths are, and then off the field, getting to know them. Coaches, much of it is the same way, the system. There’s just