The Atlanta Falcons are a hot mess after drafting Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall despite having Kirk Cousins on the roster. Their explanation for drafting Penix doesn’t make much sense either.
Look, I get it. Teams realize that a guy they are really high on is suddenly available, and they might feel the need to snag him before anybody else does. But why on earth would the Atlanta Falcons draft a quarterback when they already have one sitting at home, whom they agreed to pay $100 MILLION GUARANTEED to only a mere six weeks ago?
Michael Penix Jr. won’t realistically see the field until at least 2026, and if Kirk Cousins plays through his contract, Penix will be 28 years old before he’s a starter. Fans are just as confused as I am, and the Falcons’ explanation about drafting their new quarterback isn’t adding up.
Here’s what head coach Raheem Morris told the media on Thursday night:
“We won’t have the ability to be picking this high again with the guy that we got, and these guys go off the board pretty quickly. We thought it would be important to address our future quarterback right now when we’re picking this low in these moments.”
"We won't have the ability to pick this high again with the guy that we got" 👀#Falcons Coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot address the descision to pick QB Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 overall.
Say they still have chances to add more pieces. @11AliveNews pic.twitter.com/Jd2RPuLNoz
— Reggie Chatman Jr. (@ReggieChatman) April 26, 2024
Falcons HC Raheem Morris… with the guy that we have (Cousins).. we won’t be picking this high again. Six quarterbacks just went off before the 12th. pick in the draft… Let’s move forward and think about the future.
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) April 26, 2024
Update: It’s worse than I thought. The Falcons’ “homework” they did on Penix also isn’t passing the eye test.
Michael Penix Jr. did not take a top-30 visit to Flowery Branch. The Falcons only attended a 45 minute workout and met with him at the Combine.
It’s almost unheard of for a QB taken in the 1st to NOT be on a teams top-30.
In the end, ATL felt comfortable with the work they did.— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 26, 2024
