No one outside the Falcons' draft room saw them spending the No. 8 pick on a quarterback. The choice of University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix surprised both Penix and his new mentor, Kirk Cousins.
It doesn’t matter where you look, every single sports show today is leading off with the Falcons’ mind-boggling decision to take Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall despite just handing Kirk Cousins $180 million less than two months ago.
Many teams have justified offseason hype, but summer buzz can lead to bitter disappointment. Other squads have failed to either live up to expectations or keep up with their previous pace, leading to missed opportunities and/or sweeping changes.
The Atlanta Falcons made a significant move in the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft, opting for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as their eighth overall pick.
Can Seattle keep it going? Will there be any further separation in the middle of the pack? And will things get even worse for struggling traditional powers like Green Bay? Let’s get to the games.
The Atlanta Falcons caused a stir after selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick of the NFL Draft. It was a bit confusing considering the franchise just signed Kirk Cousins in the offseason.
The team clearly wanted to land one of the draft’s top defenders, but missed their chance. The Michael Penix selection yesterday came with significant risks, which I think are well understood at this point.
Offense is the name of the game in the modern NFL, and offensive play callers have never been more creative. Here's a look at the top NFL play-callers from 1-32 early in the 2022 season.
Coming into the NFL Draft, the Falcons had glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball, prompting many to speculate that Dallas Turner or Laiatu Latu would be the 8th overall pick.
Most head coaches and general managers spoken to by The Athletic's Dianna Russini believe the Atlanta Falcons' No. 8 pick of quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
The Atlanta Falcons are trying to say all the right things about why they drafted QB Michael Penix despite having just signed Kirk Cousins to a huge free-agent contract.
The Atlanta Falcons had one of the most surprising picks in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night as they took Michael Penix Jr. with their first pick.
The Falcons are once again the butt of the jokes following the first round of the draft after selecting Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall not even two months after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract.
Greg Cosell & Andy Benoit were as shocked as anyone when the Atlanta Falcons took Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall, but they do see why the Falcons think he fits their system.
Arthur Blank said he did not believe the Falcons tampered with Kirk Cousins, but it does seem likely the team will face a punishment of some sort in the wake of its high-profile quarterback addition.
The Falcons drafted the QB third overall in 2008, and he served as the team’s starting quarterback from that point through to his final campaign in Atlanta (2021).