Ovie Mughelli On Falcons Signing Kirk Cousins Over Justin Fields, "He Would Not Be Able to Lead Immediately"
NFL Free Agency has been off to a hot start, as many franchise players have been signed by new teams. One of the biggest signings is former Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins being signed by the Atlanta Falcons.
Strangely, there was a big rumor that the Falcons were trying to trade for Justin Fields, as the Chicago Bears QB is rumored to be shopped amid the #1 pick being used to draft USC QB Caleb Williams.
Former Falcons fullback, Ovie Mughelli, broke down the importance of the Falcons signing Cousins, and what makes him the better choice on Bleav In Falcons.
"Arthur Blank is about winning now. And the other thing is that Justin Fields, there's a lot of talk about Justin Fields. Everyone was talking about, 'Fields, Fields, Fields, Fields, Fields for the Falcons,' and putting him in Falcons jerseys. Fields is already a done deal like literally a couple of weeks ago. 'Fields is a done deal.'"
via Ovie Mughelli, Bleav In Falcons
Everyone had been matching Fields up to the Falcons so much, and everyone believed that it was all but supposed to happen. The thing is that the NFL can be quite a shocking place during free agency, and Cousins is now joining the birds.
Even if Fields had been signed by the Falcons, he would differ from Cousins in a big way.
"It was just so much talk about it. He would not be able to lead immediately in the way that Kirk Cousins could lead. Just because Kirk's, you know, resume. And to have such a young skill team on the offensive side. A skill squad, having someone like Kirk come in and to mentor these guys. The respect he has. I feel like that just gives us the ability to hit the ground running, move a lot faster, have them just trust what he says versus Justin Fields."
via Ovie Mughelli, Bleav In Falcons
Mughelli understands that Fields' inexperience as a leader was likely the deciding factor with the Falcons taking Cousins. Cousins does demand respect, and he is a proven leader.
Time will tell if that was the correct decision, but the Falcons have their new franchise quarterback.
James Brizuela has been a professional writer since 2019. After covering entertainment and the NFL for Sportskeeda, he now works as an Assignment Desk Editor for the LA Sports Report Network which has partnered with the Sports Illustrated FanNation Network, focusing on his expertise in LA sports at the college and professional level.