Arthur Blank defends Falcons' first-round pick as QB 'succession planning'

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank lauded the "independent thinkers" in the front office and coaching staff for what he considered a business decision when the franchise selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Panned as a surprise outside the organization, even starting quarterback Kirk Cousins -- who signed a $100 million contract weeks earlier -- was shocked by the pick.

But Blank said he's thankful the Falcons don't "always listen to the league" or media.

"And thank heavens we don't always do what everybody else thinks we should be doing. We're actually very independent thinkers," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"We've been through a situation, post-Matt Ryan, when we're seeing that movie when we didn't have a franchise quarterback," Blank continued. "We didn't want to repeat that again. I mean, I certainly didn't. I'm super sensitive to all forms of succession planning. After 60-odd years of business, in any business, that's critical. At the key position, the quarterback position in the NFL, that's very important. So, just listening to our coaching staff and our personnel department, they really made the decision. Michael was going to be available at No. 8. They saw an extraordinary talent."

Cousins is closer to 40 than 30 and coming back from a torn Achilles that ended his 2023 season in October. He was informed, Blank said, the Falcons were "probably" going to draft a quarterback. Like others Blank insisted the Falcons don't listen to, it's reasonable to presume Cousins wasn't expecting that quarterback to be picked in the first round.

Cousins was cleared medically for full training camp activity but is not likely to play in the preseason.

Blank said the move was about planning for the future, knowing "age does kind of creep up."

"Kirk Cousins is our franchise quarterback, is our starting quarterback and he seems to be doing great from a medical standpoint," Blank said. "His attitude, his leadership, culturally, personally, with our players, with the coaching staff, has been nothing short of outstanding. So, we couldn't be happier with that situation."

--Field Level Media