One of the most difficult steps to execute is performer dynasty plans for NFL team. Only ask the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta surprised the league’s residents at the 2024 NFL Draft by choosing past Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 choose one fortnight after signing former QB Kirk Cousins to a four-year,$ 180 million offer. Eventually, the carefully considered determination was supported by staff administration as a preventative measure to prevent quarterback purgatory.
The 24-year-old Penix initially planned to work with Cousins before gradually assuming the position of QB1. The Falcons now seem ready to move on with Cousins in time one of his agreement and the player’s first postseason appearance in seven times still in sight. After giving the former his best performance on Monday evening, the latest in a series of bad shows, Atlanta announced it would fire him in favor of Penix, who will begin for the New York Giants this Sunday in his first career stop.

“You’re seeing the consequence of when carefully thought through intentions go awry”, past NFL super-agent Leigh Steinberg said in a phone interview. The trainer and back office may have found that to be an insulting choice.
The Falcons are now liable to pay Cousins$ 27 million the following season, regardless of whether the 14 starts he’s made this year are the team’s player situation, which has been caused by the yank. His dead cap hit would still be likely to hinder their roster-building freedom through 2026 if the Falcons were to reduce or business him.
It’s like a hand grenade thrown in the middle of this well-thought-out plan, said Steinberg, who has represented a record eight No. 1 quarterback, “if you won’t play your franchise quarterback with heavily guaranteed money in a critical circumstance because you believe you have a better chance of winning with ( Penix ). 1 draft picks, including former Falcons superstar quarterback Steve Bartkowski.
The Green Bay Packers are unquestionably the best in player inheritance planning in the league. They were coached at the position by both Brett Favre ( retired ) and Aaron Rodgers ( both with the New York Jets ) for more than 20 years. Jordan Love, the basic for the Packers after Rodgers retired last year after three seasons as the copy, has been considered for Pro Bowl honours and shows promise. At least enough for the company to sign him to a four-year,$ 220 million deal ( including a document$ 75 million signing bonus ), making him one of the team’s highest-paid people.

Every NFL staff wants to have that level of stability and consistency. It is difficult to do. Rarer than metal are decisions like the Kansas City Chiefs ‘ first round selection of reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and their subsequent use of veteran starting Alex Smith. Common managers are more likely to find a potential long-term starting in the review and hope they’ll be available when their number is called. Daniel Jones, Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, Kenny Pickett, Mac Jones and Mitchell Trubisky all failed to adequately replace their team ‘ occupants.
This week’s challenger for the Falcons has had its own player drama as it continues to try to fill the shoes Eli Manning left five years ago. The Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts are more groups that may be interested in hiring a franchise quarterback for the future April review.
So, the Falcons are the most recent example of why smooth quarterback succession plans are challenging to finish. Since trading its all-time-passing head Matt Ryan in 2022, Atlanta has had a difference. Maybe an overcorrection was made by the offseason decisions to select Penix despite various positional needs and pay Cousins more than anyone in the free agency class this year. Now, the team is staring at a potential dead cap number of$ 65 million, which would be second all-time behind Russell Wilson, who left Denver earlier this year with a total dead cap value of$ 85 million, the largest in NFL history. However, the Falcons could spread the hit over two years and pay a$ 40 million cap charge the following year if they didn’t release Cousins after June 1.
The left Penix may rise to the occasion despite having fewer preseason game starts than the Falcons had anticipated, despite the Falcons ‘ earlier pressing the succession box. If Penix may explain why he was one of the most energy players in college football next year, he might be forgiven for giving a 35-year-old Cousins guaranteed cash after recovering from an Achilles injury. He led the Huskies to the national finals match and placed second in the Heisman Trophy voting process while throwing for almost 5, 000 miles.

Cousins, who has more than$ 294 million in career earnings, has passed the torch with class, but it remains to be seen whether his understudy is ready for the lead role. It’s unclear what Penix’s current objectives are for the team this year, but it’s obvious that the Falcons ‘ QB technique is in high gear and represents the league-wide conflict that teams have faced when giving out guaranteed money and later decide to remove that person.
Steinberg continued,” This is a quite remarkable move to make this late in the season in the midst of trying to be a wild-card team.” ” It sends a clear indication that in a time of turmoil they’re turning to a fresh quarterback”.