The Atlanta Falcons are proceeding to loudly protect their wonder first-round draft select, former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Maximum groups do not wish to do this following their first-round draft select, however maximum groups do not take a quarterback with the 8th total select when a month previous they signed a longtime veteran QB to a four-year, $180 million contract.
However that is simply what the Falcons did. They signed Kirk Cousins to that deal in March (which incorporates $100 million assured), after which did not inform him they had been necessarily drafting his alternative on Thursday evening till they had been at the clock.
Regardless of that confusion, head trainer Raheem Morris reiterated Saturday that Penix isn’t there to compete with Cousins.
“Kirk does no longer have to seem over his shoulder each and every time he throws a nasty cross,” Morris informed the media by way of ESPN. “Like, that isn’t the case. So I do know I will must let you know guys a couple of times that that isn’t the case. Like, we’re right here to head win, and we’re right here to head win all of it. We’re right here to win up to we will win.”
Penix being drafted 8th total by means of the Falcons was once one of the vital true shockers of the primary evening of the draft. No person noticed it coming, and for an important explanation why: it did not make a large number of sense. Atlanta GM Terry Fontenot simply signed Cousins in March, and the group has extra fast wishes for the impending season than backup quarterback. Moreover, Penix wasn’t projected to be drafted till the second one around, so the Falcons taking him 8th was once a significant succeed in. (Yahoo Sports activities’ Charles McDonald gave the Falcons’ draft an total D- grade.)
With the 2024 NFL Draft finishing Saturday, Morris mentioned the Falcons’ Penix select being the largest tale of the draft, the use of maximum ill-suited instance imaginable.
“I hate for it to be like the tale of the draft,” Morris mentioned. “I do know it’s going to be. That is simply how our international is primarily based and is pushed, however I will be able to’t say it is demanding. No. As a result of it is what other people need to see; it is piqued extra pastime. What is [Travis] Kelce’s female friend’s identify? I think like her presently. I am Taylor Swift and Terry is Kelce, I assume.”