Michael Penix Jr., Kirk Cousins had conversation after NFL draft surprise - ESPN

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. spoke on the phone Thursday night after the Atlanta Falcons stunningly took Penix with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL draft.

Penix, who led Washington to the national championship game last season, said Cousins reached out to him and the two quarterbacks had a «very good conversation,» although he did disclose specifics about what they spoke about.

«I'm gonna keep it just between me and him right now,» Penix said Friday at a news conference at the Falcons facility. «But it was definitely a good conversation and I'm super excited to work with him, and he said he's the same with me.»

The Falcons signed Cousins last month to a four-year, $180 million contract that includes $100 million of guaranteed money. Atlanta's decision to draft a quarterback with its top-10 pick drew surprise, including from Cousins himself.

Cousins was not informed that the Falcons would take a quarterback until they called him while the team was on the clock Thursday night. Mike McCartney, Cousins' agent, told ESPN's Pete Thamel that there was frustration and confusion coming from Cousins' camp, because Atlanta didn't use its first-round pick to make the team better in 2024. Instead, the Falcons used the selection on Cousins' apparent successor before Cousins even played a down for the team.

McCartney said Cousins understands the business of football and is ready to move on, but there was indeed surprise about the Falcons' decision.

«He got called on the clock, obviously because of the sensitive time with the issues of what you got going on,» Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Thursday night. «It's never a right time to talk to a quarterback about those things, and reactions are always going