Atlanta Falcons (official thread)

[ScriptOhio]

Penix that high? WTF?

Falcons GM explains shocking selection of Michael Penix Jr. that left Kirk Cousins 'disappointed'​

Atlanta shocked the football world on draft night​

The most shocking moment of night one of the 2024 NFL Draft came when the Atlanta Falcons, fresh off lavishing Kirk Cousins with a four-year, $180 million contract that contains $90 million fully guaranteed, selected University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick. There had recently been a lot of smoke around Penix coming off the board in the top half of the first round, and even some that he would land in Atlanta, but the latter seemed like too outlandish a result for it to actually happen.

Alas, it did happen. During the draft broadcast, cameras appeared to catch general manager Terry Fontenot explaining the selection to owner Arthur Blank.



And in his post-draft press conference, Fontenot explained it to the media and Falcons fans.

"If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him," Fontenot said. "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 as simple as, if you see a guy you believe in at that position, you have to take him."

He'll also have to explain it to Cousins, who apparently was not alerted about the pick and was both "shocked" and "disappointed." His agent told NFL Network, "We had no idea this was coming. The truth is the whole league had no idea this was coming. We got no heads up. Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we heard. It never came up in any conversation."
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[CMic]

If I were a Falcons fan, the whole ‘watched him throw and fell in love’ story would concern me. Penix’s weakness has been accuracy consistency. I’m sure they watched all of his tape … well, I guess I’m not sure because it’s the Falcons.

 

[Buckeneye]

If I were a Falcons fan, the whole ‘watched him throw and fell in love’ story would concern me. Penix’s weakness has been accuracy consistency. I’m sure they watched all of his tape … well, I guess I’m not sure because it’s the Falcons.

The "watched him throw and fell in love" was almost the exact like verbatim that Dorsey gave when drafting Baker Mayfield #1 overall.

Kirk can suck a fat one whining that's he's "disappointed". 36 years old, in physical decline and on the back 9 of his career. Getting paid a ton of money to be asked to come in and win now along with mentor for the future. Dude, you're getting to go out on a high note with young weapons, a solid Oline and handed cash beyond your level of play. Shut it.

As for Penix, when he finally saw a defense that deployed some looks he had to process faster and a bit more complex than Oregon, he routinely became inefficient. Solid drives right into drive killing plays. His Oline wasn't the best, but there were times he could have elevated the offense and failed to do so against scUM.

Kyle McCord had as solid of a showing and we aren't mistaking him for a top 10 pick.

 

[buckeyebri]

Yeah Kirk Cousins the most overpaid mediocre NFL QB in history. 1-4 in the playoffs in 12 years. ~$300 million in NFL salary to-date.