Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons were considered a wild card by some analysts. Some believed that is where the draft could really start, as no one knew what direction the team would go in with their selection.
In some mock drafts, Atlanta was the only team selecting a defensive player in the top 10. They didn’t end up ending the defensive drought, as they threw a major wrench in the operation with a shocking selection.
With the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Falcons selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. It was the first real surprising pick of the draft, as not many mock drafts had Penix going in the top 10, let alone to the Falcons, who signed Kirk Cousins to massive contract in free agency.
Cousins’s presence could be part of what made the Falcons comfortable enough to pull the trigger on Penix. There will be zero pressure on him to get onto the field right away as Cousins will be the starter for a few seasons.
One former NFL executive who spoke to NFL Analysis Network really liked the pick for Atlanta. They now have an insurance policy in case Cousins cannot bounce back from his Achilles injury and a long-term option for the team to rely on in the future.
“I absolutely love this pick for Atlanta. No one knows how Kirk Cousins will bounce back from his Achilles injury, but there’s another level to this move.
Michael Penix Jr. is a player that could use a year or two on the sideline. Learning from Cousins will be invaluable to him. The Falcons could not make a smarter move than finding their future quarterback before they have to find a future quarterback. This is a huge win for Atlanta.”
Using a first-round pick on a player you don’t to have see the field for a year or two is certainly risky. Given how wide open the NFC South is, the Falcons could have definitely benefitted from selecting a player who can help them win games immediately.
But, the quarterback is the most important position in the NFL. Landing Penix gives them a player to develop and turn to once they are ready to move on from Cousins.
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