Kirk Cousins signed a big-money contract with the Falcons in 2024. He may not have done that, had he known Atlanta was drafting Michael Penix Jr.

Kirk Cousins, in a postgame chat with Andy Dalton, talks about the struggle and adversity of losing your starting QB job. The side of football you don’t see.

Cousins, 36, missed the final eight games of his Vikings tenure with a torn Achilles. He began the 2024 season 6-3, completing 69.2% of his passes for 2,328 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.

That was a mistake. The coaching staff didn’t bench Cousins sooner after the injury he suffered during the Saints game in Week 10. That was a mistake. None of that is Kirk Cousins’ fault.