Final evening, the primary spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft occurred 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 one 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 most costly smokescreen in sports activities historical past. https://t.co/PhKiuvvxGY
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 26, 2024
Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Falcons did contact Kirk Cousins in regards to the group 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 recreation but for the Falcons. Terry Fontenot, the GM of the Falcons, mentioned this was not a simple determination to make. He talked about how they’re attempting to construct a sustained, profitable soccer group. 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 taking part in time and Penix Jr. ended up transferring after the 2021 season. Throughout his time in school, he needed to bounce again from 4 totally different season-ending accidents. Most gamers would give up and never wish to proceed after 4 years in a row not having the ability to play a whole season. Fortunately, the Washington Huskies took an opportunity on Penix Jr. and he performed at a excessive stage in his ultimate two years. Penix Jr.’s 2023 marketing campaign was his greatest season, ending 14-1 and shedding 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 group proprietor like a man who’s combating for his job after taking Michael Penix
pic.twitter.com/9iJat5O2KY— Barstool Sports activities (@barstoolsports) April 26, 2024
What had been the Falcons considering once they drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth choose? ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Kirk Cousins’ agent advised him that the Professional Bowl QB wasn’t significantly completely happy. Not solely are they drafting his substitute however they didn’t choose anybody to assist make the group batter in 2024 in accordance with Cousins. Not the way you need your relationship together 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 figuring out Michael Penix Jr. might substitute him at a second’s discover.
