Report: Kirk Cousins left Vikings for Falcons because of the team's plan to draft QB

The Minnesota Vikings no longer have Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback because they are focusing on the future. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Cousins moved on from the Vikings because of the team’s plan to draft a quarterback in the high rounds. Cousins believed if he stayed with the team and signed a new deal, he would be on the move in 2025.

The interesting thing is that Cousins signed with the Falcons believing he would be the starter for at least three seasons. But when the team selected Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall, it was shocking for Cousins, to say the least, since it’s likely he will only be in Atlanta for two years.

“It had to be a crappy call to take if you were Cousins, considering the basis of the decision you’d made six weeks earlier,” Breer wrote. “It remains to be seen, of course, if that’ll lead to any sort of early fissure in the player-team relationship there. I think they’ll be able to get past it, because head coach Raheem Morris is a phenomenal relationship guy, and Cousins is an adult.”

Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. will work together

Cousins may not be in Atlanta as long as he hoped for but he is going to make the most of the unique situation. When speaking to reporters after Penix was drafted, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said that Penix learning behind Cousins will make the rookie QB better.

“He’s got a great guy he can model his game after,” the Falcons head coach said Friday, per NFL.com. “He’s got a great guy he can model his process after. He’s got a great guy that he can model everything (after). Kirk Cousins is absolutely phenomenal, from when he came into this league to now. (Penix) is in a position that he can just go follow and do the right things within our building, do the right things within the structure of learning the offense, and put himself in position to go out there and try to be the best version of himself. That’s all he needs to do: just be the best version of himself.”

Penix is ready to be Cousins’ understudy. “I’m here to do whatever I can to help this team win football games,” Penix said. “That’s the biggest thing for me. I love winning, and you know, I’m a team guy. That’s what I’m going to be in the locker room. Kirk (Cousins), he’s an amazing guy.”