The Atlanta Falcons were widely expected to either take a defensive player or trade down from the No. 8 spot in the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, Atlanta shocked the NFL when they decided to take Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
There were plenty of reports that Penix would be taken much earlier than expected after his strong Pro Day and pre-draft process, but no one expected the Falcons to be the ones to take the former Huskie.
What makes the Penix pick so confusing is that Atlanta already seriously invested in Kirk Cousins in free agency.
The Falcons gave Cousins a four-year deal with $100 million guaranteed, so picking his successor so soon was befuddling.
Cousins was reportedly caught off guard when the team picked Penix but they’re hoping it motivates him even more, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
“Kirk Cousins may not be thrilled with the selection of Michael Penix Jr. The hope is that he responds for the #Falcons like Aaron Rodgers did for the #Packers after they drafted Jordan Love. Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs,” Rapoport tweeted.
The Jordan Love-Aaron Rodgers comparison makes sense until one considers that the latter’s future with the Green Bay Packers was in doubt.
In this scenario, Cousins just signed a deal to be the Falcons’ starter so it doesn’t make much sense to draft a quarterback who won’t see the field for a couple of years.
There’s a reality where Penix doesn’t start in Atlanta until he’s 27 years old, making it a tough pick to defend even though he’s definitely talented.
