While Kirk Cousins was surprised by the Atlanta Falcons selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, he said that he does not think there can be beef between the two and that it is not helpful to the team.

“I don't think it's helpful. We're trying to win a Super Bowl and it's hard enough,” Kirk Cousins said, via Marc Raimondi of ESPN. “It's hard enough. Let's all be on the same page and try and go win a Super Bowl.”

Cousins admitted that three years ago, then offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, Klint Kubiak, called him on draft night and told him that they might take a quarterback, according to Raimondi. So it has been known by Cousins that teams are always looking for a succession plan.

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

Regardless of the decision with the No. 8 pick, Cousins seems committed to having success with the Falcons.

Why was the Falcons' selection of Michael Penix Jr. so surprising?

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Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in March at the start of free agency. That is what made it surprising when the Falcons drafted Penix. Cousins seems to be in line to be the starting quarterback for Atlanta for at least two seasons, and maybe three. Signing a quarterback to that type of deal is an all in type of move, so drafting a quarterback in the top 10 was a shocker.

Another component of this is Penix's age. He is currently 24 years old, which is on the older side for rookie quarterbacks, and if Cousins is the starter for the next two years, Penix will be in line to become the starter when he is 26 years old. If Penix is as good as the Falcons believe he can be, that will not matter as much, but he was viewed as a quarterback who was ready to start right away and that will not be what happens in his career.

The Falcons on paper might still be the team to beat in the NFC South, but that does not mean they are ready to compete for a Super Bowl, as Cousins hopes to. The NFC South has been a weak division in recent years, and the Falcons could win that division, but still not be a true contender to go deep in the NFC playoffs.

Regardless, Cousins is ready to hit the ground running with Penix in the quarterback room, as he revealed he texted him and offered to be a resource for his new teammate.

“And then just congratulated him on an awesome college career,” Cousins said, via Raimondi. “I lived it. It's hard to do. And what he did is at the top of the top in terms of college success. So, just wanted to let him know that I have the utmost respect for what he's done and we're ready to get to work. And I'm here if he needs me.”

Cousins is coming off of an Achilles tear. It will be interesting to see how he fares in his first season with the Falcons.