Kirk Cousins is our quarterback': Falcons look at Aaron Rodgers-Jordan Love success as blueprint for Michael Penix Jr. draft pick

[{"selector":"#anim-ddd59490-180b-4b82-bd90-2e67c6f0fa45","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ba6114d-f274-49c3-8760-65d98a525d15","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.30137%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Falcons looked to the "Green Bay model" for inspiration in the 2024 NFL Draft.

[{"selector":"#anim-7913432d-68a5-42f0-8467-2a00d69a07f3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c5b199c-768a-42dc-bea9-acf371d22e40","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Despite signing Kirk Cousins, the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. as their No. 8 overall pick.

[{"selector":"#anim-3eb118f1-d251-4771-8046-8f43d00d54d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13fec187-97eb-4e46-b510-66d83ead61a9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-107.69231%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] GM Terry Fontenot emphasized that Cousins remains the Falcons' QB1 while Penix represents the future.

[{"selector":"#anim-089e09fb-2257-4912-a948-06d46b3172d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79a009fa-c29d-4111-8b1f-7e277ae8c936","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.84931%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The "Green Bay model" involved drafting Jordan Love despite having Aaron Rodgers as QB1, which paid off for the Packers.

[{"selector":"#anim-2a3a2e89-4241-4590-a8be-e31f715ca4d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4fd66b6f-eb3d-4e1e-87a5-18d4521f2540","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Falcons' head coach Raheem Morris cited the success of the Green Bay model and hopes for similar results.

[{"selector":"#anim-14688988-08f6-4a72-bd53-01063a0c8e4a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45522b1a-4a7b-4c8f-9820-63ec50a445e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-106.57534%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Penix is expected to develop under Cousins' guidance, preparing for future opportunities.