No one saw this coming. With the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. from Washington.
Many people expected the Falcons to draft Dallas Turner from Alabama. Some thought they’d take Penix’s teammate from Washington, wide receiver Rome Odunze.
What makes this pick so shocking is that Atlanta just gave veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins a four-year $180 million contract.
Do the Falcons plan on sitting Penix for several years? Perhaps that’s the plan, but it’s still surprising to see them go this route.
That being said, Penix is a very intriguing prospect. The left-handed gunslinger threw for 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns during his two-year stint at Washington
Penix also showed decent athleticism at his pro day.
“Freak show,” a coach texted NFL insider Jordan Schultz. “Dude runs 4.5 and then jumps 37 inches. Arm strength is crazy in person. Locked in 1st rounder.”
If Penix ends up turning into an elite quarterback, the Falcons will get to pull up plenty of receipts. For now, their front office is going to get questioned for this decision.
Do you think the Falcons made the right call selecting Penix with their first-round pick?