Kirk Cousins Benching Calls Attention to QB Succession Plan Pitfalls

For NFL groups, quarterback succession plans may be one of many hardest procedures to tug off. Simply ask the Atlanta Falcons.

Atlanta shocked folks across the league on the 2024 NFL Draft when it chosen former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 choose one month after signing veteran QB Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal. The scrutinized determination was later defended by staff administration as a safeguard transfer to keep away from quarterback purgatory.

The plan gave the impression to be that the 24-year-old Penix would research beneath Cousins earlier than finally taking on as QB1 down the street. However eight months later, with Cousins in 12 months one in every of his contract and the staff’s first playoff look in seven years nonetheless in attain, the Falcons already appear prepared to maneuver on. After Cousins underwhelmed on Monday evening, the newest in a string of subpar performances, Atlanta introduced it could bench the veteran in favor of Penix, who will make his first profession begin towards the New York Giants this Sunday.

“You’re seeing the consequence of when fastidiously thought by way of plans go awry,” former NFL super-agent Leigh Steinberg stated in a cellphone interview. “That will need to have been an excoriating determination for the coach and entrance workplace.”

The yankee has immediately destabilized the staff’s quarterback state of affairs whereas creating a possible pricey transition for the Falcons, who’re on the hook to pay Cousins $27.5 million subsequent season assured no matter whether or not the 14 begins he’s made this season are it for him with the franchise. Within the occasion the Falcons minimize or commerce him, his lifeless cap hit would nonetheless seemingly dent their roster-building flexibility by way of 2026.

“For those who received’t play your franchise quarterback with closely assured cash in a important circumstance since you consider you will have a greater likelihood to win with (Penix), it’s like a hand grenade thrown in the midst of this well-thought out plan,” stated Steinberg, who has represented a file eight No. 1 draft picks, together with former Falcons star quarterback Steve Bartkowski.

The Inexperienced Bay Packers are arguably the league’s finest at quarterback succession planning. For over 20 years, they have been led on the place by present and future Professional Soccer Corridor of Famers in Brett Favre (now retired) and Aaron Rodgers (now with the New York Jets). Packers starter Jordan Love, who changed Rodgers final 12 months after serving because the backup for 3 seasons, has been thought of for Professional Bowl honors and continues to indicate promise. Not less than sufficient for the franchise to signal him to a four-year, $220 million deal (together with a file $75 million signing bonus), making him one of many league’s highest-paid gamers.

Each NFL staff aspires for that degree of continuity and stability. It’s tough to execute. Circumstances just like the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs choosing reigning Tremendous Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes within the first spherical in 2017 whereas nonetheless having then-veteran starter Alex Smith are rarer than gold. It’s extra widespread for common managers to snag a possible long-term starter within the draft and pray they’ll be prepared when their quantity known as. Daniel Jones, Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, Kenny Pickett, Mac Jones and Mitchell Trubisky all didn’t adequately change their groups’ incumbents.

The Falcons’ opponent this week has had its personal quarterback drama because it nonetheless tries to fill the footwear left by Eli Manning 5 years in the past. The Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts are extra groups that may very well be eyeing a brand new franchise quarterback this upcoming draft in April.

Thus, the Falcons are solely the newest staff to exemplify why seamless quarterback succession plans are robust to efficiently full. Atlanta has had a niche since buying and selling its all-time passing chief Matt Ryan in 2022. The offseason strikes to pay Cousins greater than anybody on this 12 months’s free-agent class and choose Penix regardless of different positional wants was maybe an overcorrection. Now, the staff is watching a possible lifeless cap variety of $65 million, which might be second all-time behind Russell Wilson, who left Denver earlier this 12 months with a complete lifeless cap worth of $85 million, the biggest in NFL historical past. If the Falcons launch Cousins after June 1, although, they are often unfold the hit over two years and soak up a $40 million cap cost subsequent season as a substitute.

Whereas the Falcons have pushed the button on their succession plan sooner than anticipated, the lefty Penix might rise to the event regardless of restricted preseason sport reps. The choice to provide assured money to a then-35-year-old Cousins coming off an Achilles damage may be forgiven if Penix can remind folks why he was one of the electrical gamers in school soccer final 12 months. He completed second in Heisman Trophy balloting whereas throwing for practically 5,000 yards and main the Huskies to the nationwide championship sport.

Cousins, who has greater than $294 million in profession earnings, has handed the torch with class, however it stays to be seen whether or not his understudy is prepared for the lead function. It’s unsure what expectations the staff now has for Penix this season, however it’s clear that the Falcons’ QB technique is in overdrive and represents the league-wide dilemma offered to groups which have handed out assured cash and later need to unseat that participant.

“This can be a very dramatic transfer to make this late within the season within the midst making an attempt to be a wild-card staff,” Steinberg added. “It sends a transparent sign that in a time of disaster they’re turning to a younger quarterback.”