It’s not certain if the Las Vegas Raiders wanted to pick quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the 13th selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, and it will always remain unknown because the Atlanta Falcons chose him at No. 8. This was the most surprising thing in the draft, given the team's expenditure of $180 million to sign signing Kirk Cousins
. Penix is already 24 years old, so it wouldn't make sense to keep him on the bench for the whole four-year duration of Cousins’ contract. The quarterback’s time in Atlanta could be shorter than expected, possibly lasting just one season. If that happens, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell named the Raiders as one of the teams that might consider acquiring him next year.
“The other potential landing spots seem to be with the Raiders, Steelers, and Titans, none of which have a settled quarterback for the future,” Barnwell wrote in a May 8 column. “The Giants, Jets, Saints, Seahawks, and even the Dolphins may also need a veteran starter. If Cousins performs well in 2024 and both he and the Falcons want to part ways, there will be a market for him next year. Next time, Cousins might just want to make sure his new team promises not to draft a quarterback immediately after getting him.”
The Raiders didn’t choose any quarterbacks, so it's probable that the need at that position will persist, unless Garnder Minshew or Aidan O’Connell make a significant jump in 2024.
Will Kirk Cousins Want to Leave Atlanta Quickly?
Cousins will try to stay positive this season, but he's probably not completely happy that the Falcons used such a high draft pick on his replacement instead of trying to improve the team. It would have been justifiable if the Falcons had picked 21-year-old J.J. McCarthy as he could have sat for a few years and still been young when he took over as the starter.
Penix is much older, which must make Cousins feel some pressure. According to ESPN, the quarterback’s camp wasn’t pleased with what Atlanta did.
“Cousins’ agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that the Falcons did not inform the quarterback they would pick Penix until the team was on the clock,” Marc Raimondi reported in an April 25 column. “McCartney said there is frustration and confusion coming from Cousins’ camp because Atlanta did not use its first-round pick to make the team better in 2024.”
Cousins won't want to be anyone's backup, so if there's talk of replacing him with Penix by Year 2, he'll likely want to explore other opportunities.
From @NFLTotalAccess: #Falcons QB Kirk Cousins has passed every medical test as the on-field work begins. pic.twitter.com/n9AqXFwUvz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 10, 2024
Is Kirk Cousins a Good Match for the Las Vegas Raiders?
Cousins will be 37 when the 2025 season begins, and it's uncertain how well he'll play after coming back from a torn Achilles. For the Raiders, it wouldn't be very logical to acquire the quarterback. It would probably require a trade to get him, and he has a huge contract.
The Raiders would probably prefer to stay young at that position. Cousins was a free agent this offseason, and the team didn't seem to show any interest in him. It's unlikely to change now that he's a year older.
