In the NFL, there is nothing like making a perceived mistake league-wide. Truly, when it comes to going against the grain of the common consensus — if it rains, it pours. The Atlanta Falcons are learning that the hard way after they shockingly drafted former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Beyond the Falcons stunning their own fans, it seems pretty clear their Penix pick also took other NFL general managers off guard.
RELATED: Why the Falcons might have drafted Penix.
Take Bears general manager Ryan Poles, for example. When explaining his thought process after seeing receiver Rome Odunze drop to Chicago at No. 9 overall, Poles was asked about his thoughts on Atlanta’s quarterback pick just before. He could barely stifle a laugh before composing himself and delivering an appropriately professional answer.
While the charitable (and likely) interpretation is that Poles mainly appreciated Atlanta opening the door to Odunze wearing a Bears uniform, his immediate slip reaction said it all — he apparently found the Falcons’ evaluative draft process leading them to Penix very amusing.
You can find the exchange starting at the 11:05 timestamp in the video below, courtesy of the Bears:
Ryan Poles is live at the podium following Day 1 of the draft https://t.co/jWl5QEehYO
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 26, 2024
The Falcons can only hope that anyone who reacted to the Penix pick like this comes to regret their laughter in due time. For the time being, though, they are the convenient (and understandable) piñata of the league.
Featured image courtesy of the Chicago Bears.