Tag: michael penix

Michael Penix to the Falcons at No. 8 was a Pac-12 NFL draft shocker

No one saw this one coming. Penix at No. 8?

Very few people saw this one coming. The Pac-12’s last NFL draft was a very successful one, with eight Pac-12 players being picked in the first round. Of the eight selections, none was more surprising than Michael Penix going to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8. USA TODAY Sports NFL draft analyst Nate Davis weighed in:

“A sublimely talented passer who turns 24 next month, no telling now when Penix – a starter the past six seasons at the FBS level – will be back in the lineup now that he’s stuck behind Cousins for the foreseeable future. A guy who finally shook the injury bug, his four seasons at Indiana all curtailed by knee and shoulder woes, might have to cope with being a healthy scratch for at least the next two years.”

Why the Falcons acquired Kirk Cousins in NFL free agency, only to then grab an injury-prone quarterback who is already 24 years old, makes no sense. Penix is a play-now player, not someone who should be stashed on the bench for the next two years. The Falcons‘ thought process is really hard to figure out here.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

WATCH: Falcons introduce rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

WATCH: Falcons introduce rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. at Friday press conference

To the surprise of NFL analysts across the country, the Atlanta Falcons selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix in the first round of the 2024 draft on Thursday evening. While we’ve heard lots of different takes regarding the selection of Penix, it’s time to hear from the No. 8 pick himself.

The Falcons introduced their quarterback of the future to the media on Friday. Watch Penix’s press conference live, as shared by the team’s Twitter account below:

[lawrence-related id=136365,136289,136273,136351,136341,136269,136321]

Michael Penix, Bo Nix join Caleb Williams as top-12 Pac-12 NFL draft picks

The top three QBs in the Pac-12 all went off the NFL draft board in the first 12 picks. That was unexpected.

What a wild — and successful — NFL draft night it was for the Pac-12 and its quarterbacks. Not many people had the top three Pac-12 quarterbacks going off the board in the first 12 picks, but that’s exactly what happened. USC’s Caleb Williams was always expected to go at No. 1 in the 2024 NFL draft, but Michael Penix went at No. 8 to the Atlanta Falcons and Bo Nix went at 12 to the Denver Broncos. Six quarterbacks were taken in the first 12 picks of the draft, and the Pac-12 had three — half — of them. What a gold rush it was.

You will want to follow Falcons Wire and UW Huskies Wire for more coverage of Michael Penix and the night’s most-discussed NFL draft move.

You will want to follow Broncos Wire and Ducks Wire for more coverage of the Bo Nix selection, which — if Penix had not been taken by the Falcons — would have received a lot more discussion on draft night.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

WATCH: Falcons rookie QB Michael Penix’s college highlights

WATCH: Highlights from #Falcons rookie QB Michael Penix Jr.’s college career

Michael Penix, the rocket-armed lefty out of Washington, has found a new home with the Atlanta Falcons after the team made him the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Penix started his career at Indiana before transferring to Washington and putting together two stellar seasons for the Huskies. The Falcons showed interest in Penix throughout the draft process but few imagined they would select him after signing Kirk Cousins during the offseason.

The Huskies QB passed for 36 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards while leading his team to a perfect regular season record. Despite Washington’s loss to Michigan in the National Championship game, Penix clearly has the tools to play at the NFL level.

Check out Penix’s best college highlights, as shared by the team’s Twitter account below:

Twitter reacts to Penix pick

Why Penix could pay off

Video: Falcons discuss pick

Cousins stunned by Penix pick

 

Falcons’ bold decision to draft QB Michael Penix could pay off

Why the Falcons’ bold decision to draft QB Michael Penix could pay off big down the line

The Atlanta Falcons have had four straight top-10 picks, and they don’t want to be picking that high again anytime soon. That was the team’s thought process when they selected quarterback Michael Penix in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft despite signing Kirk Cousins to a monster contract in free agency.

“We’re going to build a sustained winner,” said Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot following Day 1 of the draft. “We’re gonna win for a long time. That’s the most important position in football.”

Atlanta wants to win both now and later, and rather than reaching for a need, the team took a potential franchise quarterback and put him in a position to be successful whenever he takes over.

“If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him,” said Fontenot. “And if he sits for four or five years, that’s a great problem to have because we’re doing so well at that position. So it’s just as simple as, if you see a guy that you believe in at that position, you have to take them.”

If you take the positional need out of the equation, Penix is an extremely exciting prospect with a ton of upside. His arm strength is incredible, he gets the ball to his playmakers and he’s battled adversity with multiple serious injuries.

For a team like Atlanta that experienced over a decade of consistent quarterback play, the last two seasons have been a harsh reminder of just how tough it is to win without a top QB under center. The lack of a succession plan behind Matt Ryan likely cost this team two playoff berths.

So even with Cousins set to lead this team in the present, the Falcons didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger on the future when they had the chance.

Teams like the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens have had success with this model in recent years. The Packers took Aaron Rodgers when they still had Brett Favre, and then drafted Jordan Love as Rodgers’ eventual successor.

Taking Penix is obviously a gamble, but if it works out, it could pay off over the next 15 years. “When he was sitting there staring at us at eight, we weren’t gonna pass it up,” concluded Fontenot.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

WATCH: Falcons GM, head coach discuss Day 1 of 2024 draft

Watch: Falcons GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris talk to media following Day 1 of 2024 NFL draft

The Atlanta Falcons have a knack for riling up their fans and they didn’t disappoint on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft. It’s not an exaggeration to say the Falcons made by far the most surprising pick of the entire first round when they drafted Washington quarterback Michael Penix with the No. 8 pick.

However, the surprise is mostly due to the team’s recent acquisition of free agent Kirk Cousins. Most draft analysts predicted Penix to go in the first half of Round 1, just not to the Falcons.

General manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris explained their vision for Penix to the media following Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft. Watch below, as shared by the team’s YouTube channel:

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]

Pro Football Focus grades the Falcons’ selection of Michael Penix

Pro Football Focus grades the Falcons’ selection of Michael Penix in Round 1

The Falcons used the No. 8 pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Washington quarterback Michael Penix. Instead of addressing a bigger need on the defensive side of the football, like a cornerback or an edge rusher, the team added a successor to Kirk Cousins.

This left many, including Cousins himself, stunned by the pick. To this point in the draft, teams were given at least a “good” grade for their respective selections by Pro Football Focus.

However, the Falcons were the first team to be given a poor grade with their selection of Penix earning a “below average” mark from PFF:

This is the first shocker of the night. Penix had gained more first-round buzz leading up to tonight, but no one thought the Falcons were in the quarterback market after signing Kirk Cousins this offseason. Penix was the only quarterback in college football who recorded more than 40 big-time throws during the 2023 season. Atlanta clearly values his skill set and will look to develop him behind Cousins. – PFF

The selection of Penix didn’t sit well with Falcons fans either given that the team offloaded a large portion of their salary cap space, along with the potential loss of draft picks next year, to pursue Cousins.

It has much less to do with Penix as a prospect/talent than it does with taking a long-term approach with a team that has a win-now roster. If the Falcons can land some difference-making talent on Day 2, the plan will make more sense, but most of the top edge rushers are off the board.

We’ll see what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has up his sleeve for the team’s second-round pick (No. 43) on Friday evening.

Kirk Cousins reportedly ‘stunned’ by Falcons drafting QB Michael Penix

Falcons QB Kirk Cousins was reportedly “stunned” after team selected QB Michael Penix in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL draft

If you were surprised that the Atlanta Falcons selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix with the No. 8 pick, you weren’t alone.

After the team signed Kirk Cousins in free agency, few predicted the team would take a QB early in the draft. Even when the Falcons sent a group out to Seattle for a private workout with Penix earlier this month, nobody seemed to consider it an option.

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Falcons told Cousins a quarterback would be considered but he was “a bit stunned” by the decision to draft Penix.

Leading up to the draft, you would have been hard-pressed to find anyone other than Brian Baldinger saying Penix-to-Atlanta was even a possibility. The Falcons reportedly sealed the deal with Cousins by giving him a fourth year on his contract, but the team can realistically get out of it after two years.

As confusing as it may seem, Cousins is coming off an Achilles injury and will be 36 when the season begins. Penix, 23, will be 24 in May. Stunned or not, Cousins shouldn’t feel too bad since he’s getting $100 million guaranteed regardless of what happens with Penix.

Falcons Twitter reacts to Penix Pick

Fan Poll: Grade Penix pick

Falcons draft QB Michael Penix

Instant 2024 NFL Draft grades: Atlanta Falcons select Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington 8th overall

Instant 2024 NFL Draft grades: Atlanta Falcons select Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington 8th overall

The Atlanta Falcons made a move that shocked the world by selecting their next franchise quarterback in Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall selection.

Atlanta already has a solidified starter that they just handed a ton of money to in free agency in Kirk Cousins, so Penix projects as a developmental quarterback who could take over the following season.

Penix is an excellent deep-ball thrower who willed the Washington Huskies to success over the past few seasons. One of the most productive quarterbacks in college projects well as a bombs-away quarterback at the next level. This move comes as a shock given where most outlets had Penix rated, but the Falcons decided to stay put and take their guy.

An older quarterback with medical issues as a developmental pick is a bit of a head-scratcher:

Grade: D

Falcons stun everyone picking QB Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 in the 2024 NFL draft

The Falcons threw everyone a draft curveball in the first round.

Leave it to the Atlanta Falcons to blow up everyone’s mock drafts. The Falcons had some excellent options in the 2024 NFL draft at positions like edge rusher and wide receiver and they signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a huge contract in free agency. Nevertheless, the Falcons opted for Washington quarterback Michael Penix No. 8 overall.

This is one of those picks that will either make a general manager a genius or get them fired. Penix has far and away the most lively arm in the entire draft including Caleb Williams and his athletic ability is on par with Jayden Daniels.

However, two torn ACLs in two years and a shoulder injury should give any team pause. But Atlanta did their due diligence and felt like he is healthy and can be the long-term answer at quarterback in Atlanta.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]