“If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him, and if he sits for four or five years, that’s a big problem because we do so well at that position.”

That’s what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said about rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. when he shocked the NFL world by selecting him with the No. 8 overall pick in April, just weeks after selecting veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​was committed to a four-year, $180 million contract.

Unfortunately, Fontenot and the Falcons won’t have that problem. Fifteen weeks into his tenure, Cousins ​​was benched because of his performance and the franchise hands the keys to Penix.

The 7-7 Falcons are still in the NFC South hunt, but their lead over the division collapsed during a 1-4 stretch in which Cousins ​​threw just one touchdown pass to nine interceptions and took 11 sacks. They had big goals for this season; Remember, coach Raheem Morris also said that “we won’t make a pick that high again,” referring to the eighth overall pick that Penix secured. But with 36-year-old Cousins ​​at the helm, they would clearly fall short of a playoff spot.

The sprint to Penix this late in the season is a desperate scramble for immediate improvements with a resource that was originally seen as a long-term investment. The Falcons are drawing from their 401(k) account to pay off their credit card bill. But Penix burned a hole in her pocket. That’s the problem with the always patient design and development approach – companies are always wondering what’s behind door #2.

Leave the long-term vision and larger implications aside. Why was it so clear that Cousins ​​needed to be benched? And can Penix really step in as a rookie and help the offense right away? I am convinced that this will work. Maybe not good enough to beat the Buccaneers in the division, but it could pay off over time. Here’s why the Falcons made this move.

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Cousins ​​hasn’t looked good all season
How will Penix change the offense?
What’s next for Cousins?

Why did Kirk Cousins ​​have to be benched?