People across the football world are still scratching their heads and wondering why the Atlanta Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick last week.
They had signed Kirk Cousins, a veteran QB who has been named to the Pro Bowl four times, and they invested quite a bit of money in him by giving him a lucrative four-year, $180 million contract.
According to Jordan Schultz on Fox Sports 1’s “Speak,” the Falcons went with Penix because they were extremely impressed with him when they worked him out prior to the draft.
Shultz said the Falcons brought their own footballs to the workout, which was held in Washington state, and although the footballs were ice-cold and in terrible shape, Penix looked impressive throwing them during the workout.
Penix led the University of Washington to the College Football Playoff National Championship game in January, where it lost to the University of Michigan, and he finished the season with 4,903 passing yards and 36 passing touchdowns.
The only possible way to make sense of the Falcons drafting him, other than his impressive workout, is the fact that Cousins is 35 years of age and coming off a torn Achilles he suffered midway through last season.
A torn Achilles is arguably the worst injury any athlete can sustain, and it is very possible he won’t be able to play at a high level again, especially given the mileage he had accumulated over 12 NFL seasons.
Even if Cousins returns to his accustomed level of play, it is always possible the Falcons will have a smooth transition past him thanks to Penix.
