Final night time, the primary spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft passed off in Detroit, Michigan. It was an thrilling time for groups so as to add high expertise to their rosters. The primary 4 to 6 picks went as most mock drafts predicted. 4 QBs and two WRs had been gone within the first six picks. With the eighth choose within the draft, many analysts thought the Falcons would take the primary defensive participant off the board.
Nonetheless, Atlanta made a transfer that no person noticed coming. Regardless of simply signing Kirk Cousins to an enormous four-year contract this offseason, the Falcons nonetheless determined to draft a QB. They went with the 2023 Heisman runner-up, Michael Penix Jr. from Washington. League insiders reported that Cousins was surprised to listen to that the Falcons had been going to be taking a QB within the first spherical. After the primary 32 picks within the first spherical, there’s little question that the Falcons taking Penix Jr. was the strangest.
When will Michael Penix Jr. be the beginning QB for the Atlanta Falcons?
Kirk Cousins was the costliest smokescreen in sports activities historical past.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 26, 2024
Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Falcons did contact Kirk Cousins concerning the crew deciding on a QB. Nonetheless, it wasn’t till the Falcons had been already on the clock. What was Cousins going to do, inform his proprietor and GM no. That wouldn’t bode nicely since Cousins hasn’t even performed a sport but for the Falcons. Terry Fontenot, the GM of the Falcons, stated this was not a straightforward choice to make. He talked about how they’re attempting to construct a sustained, successful soccer crew. Atlanta believes they did that by drafting Michael Penix Jr.
The primary 4 seasons of Michael Penix Jr.’s collegiate profession had been bumpy, to say the least. Accidents impacted his enjoying time and Penix Jr. ended up transferring after the 2021 season. Throughout his time in school, he needed to bounce again from 4 completely different season-ending accidents. Most gamers would stop and never wish to proceed after 4 years in a row not with the ability to play an entire season. Fortunately, the Washington Huskies took an opportunity on Penix Jr. and he performed at a excessive stage in his remaining two years. Penix Jr.’s 2023 marketing campaign was his greatest season, ending 14-1 and dropping within the Nationwide Championship to Michigan. He threw for a career-high 4,903 yards and 36 passing touchdowns.
The Falcons GM is speaking to the crew proprietor like a man who’s combating for his job after taking Michael Penixpic.twitter.com/9iJat5O2KY
— Barstool Sports activities (@barstoolsports) April 26, 2024
What had been the Falcons pondering after they drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth choose? ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Kirk Cousins’ agent instructed him that the Professional Bowl QB wasn’t significantly comfortable. Not solely are they drafting his substitute however they didn’t choose anybody to assist make the crew batter in 2024 based on Cousins. Not the way you need your relationship along with your franchise QB to start out. Kirk Cousins is 35 and is coming off a season-ending Achilles harm. At his greatest, Cousins is a top-five QB within the NFL who has proven he can nonetheless sling the ball and be a productive participant. Heading into subsequent season, Cousins is their QB1 however he can’t really feel nice realizing Michael Penix Jr. might change him at a second’s discover.
