Kirk Cousins revealed he was blindsided by the Falcons’ decision to draft Michael Penix Jr., and it may have changed the NFL quarterback landscape. One ripple effect could have sent Cousins to the Browns and kept Shedeur Sanders from landing in Cleveland altogether.

When Kirk Cousins signed a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, it came with the expectation that he would be a starting quarterback for the duration. So it came as a surprise when the Falcons drafted former Washington star Michael Penix Jr.

Kirk Cousins wishes he had the inside scoop last March. The benched Falcons quarterback revealed he felt “misled” after leaving the Vikings to sign a four-year, $180 million deal with Atlanta following the 2023 season, only for the team to draft his replacement, Michael Penix Jr., with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.