.The Atlanta Falcons possessed rather perhaps the boldest offseason in the NFL, signing quarterback and also four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal ($ 100 thousand assured) as well as additionally drafting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.Team proprietor Arthur Space created the instance for why the Falcons, whom he tagged "private thinkers," were actually smart to allocate considerable resources to a pair of quarterbacks." Our team produced it very clear to Kirk as well as others that our experts probably were going to prepare a quarterback in the course of this draft. As it ended up, Michael Penix, for our mentoring workers as well as our staffs department, classed astonishingly high. They viewed him as a tremendous gamer," Blank said to The Atlanta georgia Journal-Constitution on Tuesday. "Our experts've been actually via a situation, post-Matt Ryan, when our experts are actually finding that motion picture when we didn't have a franchise business quarterback. Our team really did not desire to repeat that once more. I mean, I absolutely failed to. I am actually tremendously conscious all forms of succession preparation. After 60-odd years of company, in any kind of organization, that is actually critical. At the key posture, the quarterback position in the NFL, that is actually extremely vital. " So, simply listening closely to our training staff and also our workers team, they definitely decided. Michael was actually going to be actually on call at amount eight. They observed a phenomenal ability. Kirk Cousins is our franchise business quarterback, is our starting quarterback, and also he seems to be to become doing terrific from a health care viewpoint." Cousins, who will be 36 at the start of the 2024 period, possessed his 2023 project halted after eight activities as a result of a torn Achilles. He spent the previous 6 seasons of his profession with the Minnesota Vikings, which was actually come before by 6 seasons in Washington, along with him being actually the full-time starter the last three years (2015-17). Prior to the Achilles tear, Relatives amounted to 2,331 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and also a 103.8 passer rating, while finishing 69.5% of his passes.Meanwhile, Penix finished second in 2023 Heisman Trophy voting, a year after finishing 8th. Over his two periods in Washington (2022-23), Penix averaged 4,772 passing gardens, 33.5 passing goals, 9.5 interceptions as well as a 154.2 passer score per period, while finishing 65.4% of his passes.The Huskies went a mixed 25-3 along with Penix under facility, highlighted through reaching final season's University Regulation football Playoff Championship game game.Atlanta is going over a third successive 7-10 season, which led to scalp trainer Arthur Smith's termination for former Los Angeles Rams defensive planner and previous Falcons interim instructor Raheem Morris. Additionally, the Falcons haven't made the playoffs or possessed a gaining document because 2017. Eagles under 10.5 victories, Cowboys, Falcons over highlight Danny Parkins' succeed overall wagers Atlanta ga has started 3 quarterbacks over the past two years, which followed trading the expert as well as four-time Pro Bowler Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022: Desmond Ridder, Marcus Mariota and also Taylor Heinicke." Our team hope and also pray he is actually [Cousins] obtained three to 4 terrific years in front of him, maybe beyond that. That understands? Yet our team additionally recognize that eventually, there are going to be actually a point that our experts'll need to have a transition," Space mentioned about Atlanta ga's future at quarterback. "Our experts intend to make sure we carry out that properly." Blank referenced the Eco-friendly Bay Packers, who traded approximately pick quarterback Jordan Affection in the 2020 NFL Draft and sat him behind Aaron Rodgers for three seasons, as a prospective design for the Falcons Affection helped the Packers get to the NFC local round in his very first total season under center (2023) and made a four-year, $220 thousand expansion coming from Eco-friendly Bay last week. [Want wonderful stories delivered straight to your inbox? Generate or even visit to your FOX Athletics account, observe leagues, staffs as well as players to receive an individualized newsletter daily.] Adhere to Observe your favorites to tailor your FOX Sports experience Atlanta Falcons Michael Penix Jr. Kirk Cousins Get even more coming from National Football Organization Observe your favorites to obtain relevant information concerning activities, updates and also even more.