Atlanta Falcons Owner Arthur Blank ‘Very Supportive’ of Kirk Cousins ​​Michael Penix Jr.

In the 2024 NFL Draft, the video surfaced of Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot conversing with owner Arthur Blank after selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick.

Fontenot’s hands moved, speaking as much with them as with his mouth. Blank watched and listened.

Some took the interaction out of context, with Fontenot insisting it likely had to do with the Falcons’ plans to maneuver the selection committee for the rest of the night.

Atlanta held discussions before the draft, committing to the idea of ​​trying to move back into the first round regardless of who it selected with its first pick.

So after turning in the card with Penix’s name on it, the Falcons called each team, setting thresholds for what they were — and weren’t — willing to give up.

That’s when, Fontenot said, the cameras turned on.

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“I was probably telling him, ‘If we’re here, we think we can do it. To have this particular player, we will have to give up a future (No. 1) and that’s why. And if it comes to that, it’s another category of players. Now we can achieve this,” Fontenot said.

“So I was probably talking to him about those things in particular. That’s what I assume. But we have so many conversations.

Essentially, the scene had nothing to do with the Falcons’ controversial decision to select Penix just a month and a half after he signed Cousins ​​to a four-year, $180 million contract, including $90 million guaranteed at during the first two seasons.

Before the offseason transactional period began, Blank moved CEO Rich McKay away from football operations, eliminating the middleman between him and the team’s decision-makers.

Fontenot and former head coach Arthur Smith reported to McKay, who reported to Blank. Now, Fontenot and Morris report directly to Blank.

And in an offseason focused on solidifying Atlanta’s short- and long-term future, Blank has supported the team’s key decision-makers.

“Arthur is very supportive of us,” Fontenot said. “He’s been very supportive of the move to free agency as it relates to Kirk Cousins, an investment we made there. He is very excited about Kirk. He is very excited about Michael Penix.

“We obviously talk about everything, and he’s very, very excited about it. We completely agree and he fully supports us. He was very supportive and very enthusiastic about everything.

The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs in six years, a fact Blank is committed to changing — and he fully supports Morris and Fontenot’s quarterback decisions and how they translate into achieving this feat.