ATLANTA — Steve Bartkowski’s reaction to how the Falcons used their first-round draft pick probably was a little bit like yours.

“Like most NFL fans and people who track it, kind of a head scratcher,” the Falcons legend said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s one of those deals you say, ‘Wait a minute now. What’s it going to do for Kirk (Cousins) and the money you spent on him?’ ”

Being a charter member of the team’s Ring of Honor does not preclude Bartkowski from wondering why general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris used the No. 8 overall pick Thursday on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. when they had just committed a nine-figure contract to Cousins. But it may mean he’s more gracious about it than many.

“There’s a whole lot of guys in that (draft) room that are smarter than me, and they get paid a lot of money to make decisions like this,” Bartkowski continued. “I defer to them, and we’ll see how it works out.”

And that’s where the Falcons are. The reaction of fans — ranging all the way from outrage to fury — has been registered. Media members have served heaping portions of ridicule. (The opinion here is that it actually was a forward-thinking decision to secure a potential franchise quarterback — the most critical ingredient in the pursuit of a Super Bowl — when the opportunity presented itself.) (And, yes, there are at least some fans who approve of the selection.)

Now all that’s left is for the Falcons to make their bold scheme actually work. Ironically, the heaviest load will be carried by a guy who was thrust into the center of the drama without ever auditioning.

“It really depends on the guy, and the character of the guy, that has the team right now, and that’s Kirk Cousins,” Bartkowski said.

By his play and his response to Penix, Cousins will heavily shape the course of seasons to come. If he falls well below his Pro Bowl standards, or if he is unable to stay healthy, the plan for Penix to sit and learn behind Cousins while the Falcons fulfill their playoff aspirations will crumble. The pressure on Morris to play Penix will be immense.

If the Falcons miss the playoffs for a seventh consecutive season, Fontenot will be mocked for using the No. 8 pick on Penix based on his belief that the Falcons wouldn’t be drafting high enough to land a quarterback like Penix anytime soon. And not only that, but he’ll be hammered for committing $100 million guaranteed to Cousins in the first place. Really, at that point, mockery might be the least of Fontenot’s concerns.

Further, even if he plays well, Cousins can make life miserable for Penix — and by extension the team — by refusing to help him. Likewise, he can cause headaches for Fontenot and Morris by how he addresses the situation publicly.

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