Sorry, Michael Penix Jr. The media (and Atlanta) is ruining your moment
Yes, we're still talking about this. He didn't ask to be drafted by the Falcons. He's just trying to enjoy the moment.
It was supposed to be his night. He flashed his fashion with a baby blue suit, an “MP” pinned to his lapel and white Prada glasses. He was surrounded by family and friends who shared his enthusiasm. He achieved what only 1.6% of the college pool can do. Yet the crux of his life has been overshadowed by constant negativity circling throughout the media.
The Atlanta Falcons shocked the world on Thursday, Apr. 25. After signing QB Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract ($100 million guaranteed), they selected Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. For Penix Jr., the announcing of his name on the Detroit, Mich., stage was everything he’d been working toward his whole life. For everyone else, it was considered a head-scratching, utterly unnecessary reach.
The latter is still being talked about. It's not that he shouldn’t have been picked in the first round. That was somewhat expected. It’s that he shouldn’t have been drafted in that spot by that team.
“This could be a disaster,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said about the pick on The Rich Eisen Show.
“It makes no sense to me,” said CBS Sports Columnist Pete Prisco on HQ, the program’s streaming network. “You have Kirk Cousins, you paid Kirk Cousins. “I don't love this pick for the Falcons. Good player, bad situation. Don't love it."
The Falcons went all in and seemingly opened a two-to-three-year playoff window with the signing of Cousins, 35 years old, who, not to mention, is coming off of a torn Achilles suffered on Oct. 29 of last year. The aspect of the Penix Jr. pick that does make sense is that Cousins’ deal is essentially a two-year deal, meaning they have an out after the 2025 season. In a nutshell, the former Viking is set to have a cap hit of $25 million in 2024 and $40 million in 2025. His cap hit then balloons on the back end of the deal ($57.5 million in 2026 and 2027), but the dead money decreases ($25 million in dead cap in 2026 and $12.5 million in 2027). Still, it’s a lot of money the Falcons invested in Cousins. With an investment that grand, you’d think Atlanta would maximize that window, right? Nope.
Atlanta is copying the Green Bay Packers’ philosophy. In 2005, the Packers selected Aaron Rodgers at No. 25 in the first round with Brett Favre locked in as the team’s starting QB. In 2020, they did the same thing, selecting Jordan Love at No. 26 with Rodgers in his prime. Of course, Rodgers went on to win back-to-back MVPs the next two years. Love’s debut as the team’s full-time starter was delayed until last season. He led the Packers to the second round of the playoffs and threw for 4,159 yards, 32 TDs and 11 interceptions. The plan — to have your first-round investment learn from one of the game’s greats — worked.
The thing is, the Falcons situation is much different. Cousins has no equity in Atlanta. No established credit. He’s done nothing for the city that warrants its support. He’s been there for a month and a half. Heck, he probably doesn't even know half of his teammates yet. Favre and Rodgers spent 10+ years in Green Bay before their successor was drafted.
After one bad game, it wouldn’t surprise me to see fans clamoring for his backup.
“This isn’t a relationship that’s gone south,” NFL insider Tom Pelissero said. “This is cheating on your wife on the honeymoon.”
That’s certainly one way to put it.
One of the main benefits of drafting a first-round quarterback is the financial aspect. They play on a cheap four-year deal (plus the fifth-year option if it gets picked up). But by the time Cousins’ contract is up, depending on how long the Falcons stay in it, Penix Jr. will have had little-to-no playing time and will require a contract extension shortly. He’ll also be 28 years old then.
The Falcons don’t care, though.
They’ve suffered from abysmal quarterback play since Matt Ryan’s last good year in 2020. After his departure, a trio of Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke were under center. Over that span, Atlanta compiled an uninspiring 14-20 record.
It’s at no fault of the talent surrounding the QB. Before the Penix Jr. pick, Atlanta spent three consecutive first-round picks on skill positions — TE Kyle Pitts at No. 4 overall in 2021, WR Drake London at No. 8 overall in 2022 and RB Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall in 2023
None of this is Penix Jr.’s fault.
He didn’t ask to be drafted by Atlanta or as high as he was. Though, I can bet you he’s happy, regardless of the situation.
Penix Jr. burst onto the scene this past season when he led the Washington Huskies to its second College Football Playoff appearance (2016). The lefty gunslinger was outstanding all year, showcasing his velocity and accuracy on the deep ball en route to 4,903 passing yards and 36 touchdowns.
His talent was never in question. His injury history, on the other hand, was.
Penix Jr. transferred to Washington in the summer of 2022. He needed a fresh start. He spent four seasons at Indiana and all ended with injuries — an ACL tear, a right (non-throwing) shoulder injury, a second ACL tear of the same (right) knee and a left shoulder injury. But once he got to Washington, he played 28-straight games.
Suffice to say, he’s been through a lot. And that makes him being drafted in the top 10 all the more incredible.
If you’re frustrated with the pick of Penix Jr., take it up solely with the Falcons. But he’s a man — and a story — worth admiring.