The Atlanta Falcons shocked the world on Thursday night, selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick.
No one expected the Falcons to select Penix. In fact, most analysts projected them to take Dallas Turner from Alabama.
After the pick was announced, ESPN’s cameras showed Falcons owner Arthur Blank having a conversation with general manager Terry Fontenot.
Many people assumed Fontenot was explaining why the Falcons selected a quarterback in the first round just one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract.
“He knows how bad of a pick it was,” one fan said.
Another fan tweeted, “Dude is getting fired.”
Here’s the video that’s going viral:
This very much looks like Terry Fontenot trying to explain himself #Falcons #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/1vl7CgIrfV
— Cody Chaffins (@CodyChaffins) April 26, 2024
Obviously, this quarterback situation needs to work out in order for Fontenot to retain his job.
The Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract this offseason. We’d have to imagine he’ll be their starter for at least the next two seasons.
If that happens, Penix won’t get his chance to shine until he’s 26 years old. The lefty showed tremendous skill at Washington, throwing for 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns in a two-year stretch.