NFL analysts grade Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr.’s preseason debut

The Atlanta Falcons lost their preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins and suffered a few serious injuries in the process. While losing rookie edge rusher Bralen Trice and cornerback Harrison Hand definitely hurts, there were some positives to come out of Friday’s game.

Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. got the start for Atlanta and mostly held his own. Penix showed poise in the pocket, completing nine of 16 passes for 104 yards. So what are those around the NFL saying about the first-round pick’s debut?

The early reviews have been mostly positive for this year’s crop of rookie quarterbacks and Penix is no exception. Here’s a look at what Sporting News writer Vinnie Iyer had to say about the Falcons QB’s performance against Miami:

Sporting News: B

Penix knows he won’t be starting for Atlanta as long as Kirk Cousins doesn’t have any more injury obstacles in 2024. Perhaps that allowed the big-armed talent to relax and let the ball fly, with quick, fluid motion and expected deep-ball accuracy. It was an auspicious debut for the Falcons’ future at QB. — Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

Iyer makes an interesting point about Penix knowing his role as the No. 2 quarterback. Unlike Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, Jayden McDaniels and Drake Maye, Penix is not competing for a starting job. There’s less pressure on the rookie, but that’s all by design.

Had the Falcons drafted Penix without signing Cousins, there would be no time for the rookie to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. The 33rd Team was slightly more critical of Penix’s debut:

The 33rd Team: C+

Mentally, Penix looked the part. He was confident in the pocket and worked through his progressions effectively, so there were no concerns about how Penix saw the game. The odd thing with Penix is that while he’s capable of making the most impressive passes, his ball placement is either on the money or nowhere close. Five of his seven incompletions were well out of reach for his target, and a few completions were to the wrong shoulder. When Penix hurries, he relies more on his arm than proper passing mechanics, exposing his arm strength as good but not capable of hitting every passing window with ease. — Ian Valentino, The 33rd Team

Penix did miss on a few of his throws but looked comfortable once he got into a rhythm. One thing that became clear watching Friday’s game was that the moment wasn’t too big for the Falcons rookie. We’ll see how he responds on Saturday when the team takes on the Baltimore Ravens at noon ET.

Atlanta signed two defensive backs on Monday, adding William Hooper and Josh Thompson. Check out the team’s updated 90-man roster HERE!

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