The Atlanta Falcons are making a quarterback change: veteran Pro-Bowler Kirk Cousins is being benched for rookie Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a 4-year, $180M contract this offseason with $90M fully-guaranteed. They also drafted Penix Jr. No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The passing of the guard was always the plan, just not this early.
The Falcons once sat at 6-3 with a 4-0 record in the NFC South division. They’re now 7-7 and on the outside looking in on the playoff race. The drastic falloff in quarterback play from Cousins is a large reason why and ultimately what led to the change. Atlanta wide receiver Drake London might be the biggest benefactor of the change and London didn’t mince his words when sharing what he thought about the decision.
“I don’t take QB changes in any way. I’ve been through that a lot in college, so honestly how I look at is just catch the ball. Whoever throws me the ball I really don’t care, just as long as it gets there and it’s catchable. That’s just all that matters to me,” said London about the recent quarterback change.
London was near the top of every receiving category before the dip in production that coincided with Cousins' downturn. London is still on pace to have a career-best season with 78 receptions, 919 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns. However, the big-bodied receiver hasn’t fully been unleashed to the maximum of his skillset, and the potential with Penix Jr. to unlock that is an exciting thought.
