Kirk Cousins insists he isn't angry with the Atlanta Falcons for drafting Michael Penix, Jr.

Cousins was asked on the 'Bussin' with the Boys' podcast if there's beef between him and the Falcons over the draft.

"No, I don't think there can be. I don't think it's helpful," the quarterback said.

"We're trying to win the Super Bowl and it's hard enough. So let's all be on the same page and let's go try to win the Super Bowl."

Former Chargers general manager A.J. Smith died Sunday at the age of 75, his family announced.

Smith had been battling prostate cancer for the past seven years, his family said in the announcement, which was released by the Falcons. Smith's son, Kyle, is the Atlanta Falcons' assistant general manager.

Free agent outside linebacker Bud Dupree signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced Saturday.

Dupree, 31, had a career renaissance last year, notching 6.5 sacks and 39 tackles with eight tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits for the Atlanta Falcons. He quickly emerged as the team's top stand-up edge rusher in Atlanta's defensive scheme, often playing on many vital snaps.

There were a few reasons why Kirk Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings for the Atlanta Falcons in free agency this offseason.

For one, the Falcons were willing to offer Cousins more guaranteed money, but the Vikings' plan to draft a quarterback also played a role in the veteran looking for a new team, according to a report.

Minnesota was honest with Cousins about the possibility of selecting a quarterback high in the draft. The Vikings eventually took J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick.

What's ironic is that the Falcons shocked many when they used the No. 8 overall pick on Michael Penix, Jr.

Cousins reportedly had no idea the Falcons were going to take a quarterback -- a decision which left him "shocked" and "disappointed."

The Atlanta Falcons tried to trade back into the first round of last week's NFL Draft after taking Michael Penix, Jr. with the eighth overall pick, according to a report.

Specifically, the Falcons wanted to move back into the teens for UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu. He ultimately went No. 15 overall to the Indianapolis Colts.

The New York Jets' 2024 NFL Draft documentary on YouTube shows general manager Joe Douglas getting off the phone with the Falcons and saying, "They want to come back up to 10, so they want eight and 10."

Kirk Cousins' position as the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback of the foreseeable future has not changed after the team's stunning first-round NFL draft decision, according to new coach Raheem Morris.

The Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 pick Thursday night. The choice sent shockwaves across the NFL since Atlanta had just signed Cousins as a free agent last month to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million, with $100 million of that guaranteed.

At the Falcons' post-draft media availability Saturday, Morris halted any quarterback controversy.

Kirk Cousins was amongst the observers stunned by the decision by the Atlanta Falcons to spend a first round pick on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. out of Washington. 

The Falcons made the pick despite signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract last month in free agency.

Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN's Pete Thamel that the Falcons only notified the QB that they'd pick Penix while the team was on the clock. McCartney said there is frustration and confusion coming from Cousins' camp because Atlanta did not use its first-round pick to make the team better in 2024.

Penix, himself, said he was surprised when he got the call telling him he was the pick.

"I'm not going to say I knew it was coming," Penix said. "But I knew once the phone call came through."

The Chicago Bears led off the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting Caleb Williams out of USC as expected with the Washington Commanders taking Jayden Daniels at No. 2 and the New England Patriots also taking a quarterback at No. 3 in Drake Maye.

There were a NFL draft record 23 offensive players selected in the first round:

• Six Quarterbacks

• Seven Wide Receivers

• Nine Offensive Linemen

• One Tight End

2024 NFL Draft Results (First Round)

1. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams, QB, USC

2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame

6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham, OT, Alabama

8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington

9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odense, WR, Washington

10. Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan

11. New York Jets: Olu Fashanu, OT, Penn State

12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

13. Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Browers, TE, Georgia

14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA

16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

17. Minnesota Vikings: Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama

18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia

19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu, OG, Washington

21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson, Edge, Penn State

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

23. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

24. Detroit Lions: Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama

25. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan, OT, Arizona

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton, C, Duke

27. Arizona Cardinals: Darius Robinson, Edge, Missouri

28. Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

29. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma

30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson

31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

32. Carolina Panthers: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

The NFL's investigation into alleged tampering by the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles remains ongoing and will not be concluded this week, according to the league.

The Eagles and Falcons each have eight picks in the 2024 draft. The timing of the potential punishments now means that neither team will lose draft picks this year.

Atlanta is being investigated for allegedly being in direct contact with Kirk Cousins before they were legally allowed to according to league rules.

The Eagles are being investigated for alleged tampering regarding their signing of Saquon Barkley.

The NFL will soon announce punishments for tampering charges against both the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles during this year's free agency period.

The punishment for the Falcons is expected to be more severe as Kirk Cousins admitted on-the-record that he communicated with Atlanta's athletic trainer and head of public relations before the new league year.

Saquon Barkley's college head coach at Penn State, James Franklin, alluded to Barkley and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman speaking on the phone before such communication was allowed.

The Miami Dolphins lost their 2023 first-round draft choice and a 2024 third-rounder for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton three different times from 2019 through 2022. Owner Stephen Ross was fined $1.5 million, and team vice chair and limited partner Bruce Beal received a $500,000 fine. 

The Kansas City Chiefs lost their 2016 third-rounder and a 2017 sixth-round choice for tampering with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in 2015.