Legendary QB comments on Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr. situation

Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk noted that if the Kansas City Chiefs hadn't moved up to the No. 10 spot in the 2017 draft to select Patrick Mahomes, former Saints head coach Sean Payton likely would have chosen Mahomes as the 11th pick despite already having Drew Brees as his starting quarterback.

Brees recently compared that possible experience to Atlanta Falcons veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins sharing a quarterback room with rookie Michael Penix Jr.

"The organization has to do what it has to do," Brees told Scott Thompson of Fox News Digital. "They have to prepare for the future. If I were in that situation, I would’ve been like, 'Hey coach, you have to do what you have to do. You have to prepare for the future. Man, it would’ve been nice to get a receiver, or [defensive back], or get a lineman or D-lineman to help the team. Because I still see myself as the guy.'" 

Of course, the two situations are quite different. Brees joined the Saints after the 2005 season and guided the franchise to a Super Bowl championship in February 2010. Meanwhile, Cousins wasn't told Atlanta could select a quarterback with the eighth pick of this year's draft when he signed a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M guaranteed to join the Falcons in March. It's possible he would've chosen differently in free agency had he known about Atlanta's true plans before he inked his deal. 

"Certainly, Cousins is in the position where he’s thinking to himself, 'Hey, I’m the starter here for three, four years. Then, I’ll help develop this guy, and they’re either going to have to trade him or he’s going to replace me,'" Brees continued. 

Cousins has publicly said positive things about "working together" with Penix thus far this season, but it's believed the 35-year-old could try to force his way to a different team via a trade as soon as March 2025. During his chat with Thompson, Brees offered some simple advice for Cousins regarding the upcoming campaign.

"Worry about the things you can control," said Brees. 

Time will tell if Penix will follow in Mahomes' footsteps and ultimately prove the Falcons made the correct decision to draft him. For now, Cousins will continue his recovery from the torn right Achilles he suffered in October 2023 as he prepares to serve as Atlanta's Week 1 QB.