THE Atlanta Falcons shocked the NFL world Thursday night by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick after signing Kirk Cousins.
Penix will likely start the season as Cousins’ backup. The old Minnesota Vikings The star signed a four-year contract with the Falcons in March, worth $180 million. The Penix pick on top of the deal has caused confusion among many fans and analysts.
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Atlanta Falcons first-round quarterback Michael Penix Jr. holds a Falcons jersey during a news conference Friday, April 26, 2024, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
On Monday, former Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden appeared on OutKick’s. “Don’t @me with Dan Dakich” and gave his expert opinion on what the Falcons did. Gruden was in a similar situation in 2012, when Washington took Robert Griffin III No. 2 overall and then selected Cousins in the fourth round.
Gruden was forced to deal with this delicate situation. The difference for the Falcons is that Cousins is in the prime of his career and Penix could be the quarterback of the future.
“I think what the Falcons did this year is a little strange to me, especially with all the needs they had on defense,” Gruden told Dakich. “They had options on defense when it came to the pass rush.
“But it just shows the desperation of teams to find the quarterback of the future. You have to find him. You have to keep looking for them. If you feel like you have one out there and you can have him in your building, you have to take a chance. And that’s what Atlanta did.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, #8, takes the field during a game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings on September 8, 2019 at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Penix said Friday he heard from Cousins after the selection. He said he would be ready if given the opportunity to play.
“I know I’m going to do a lot of work to make sure that every time I step on that field, I don’t miss a beat,” he said.
Penix’s former Washington Huskies teammate Rome Odunze vouched for the quarterback in an interview with Fox News Digital before the project.
“I think everything on the field, he’s my QB1 in this draft,” the former Huskies star said. “I think he’s a huge talent. Based on what he’s been able to do on the field, I don’t think he’s really missing anything. He’s going to improve in all aspects of his game , just like he did in the past two years.”
Kirk Cousins, left, and Michael Penix Jr. are now teammates on the Atlanta Falcons. (Getty Images/IMAGNE)
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Penix led Washington to the national title game against Michigan last season. He threw for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns. In 2022, he has 4,641 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. It was during these two seasons that he showed what he is capable of when healthy.
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