Why Michael Penix Jr. Makes Sense for the Falcons
Despite the Atlanta Falcons having plenty of critics regarding their draft, the franchise is still sixth among NFC teams in our odds to win the Super Bowl. The Falcons drafted plenty more players than Michael Penix Jr., but it is the selection of the quarterback that has garnered the majority of the attention.
I don’t see many people defending the Penix pick, but it made a lot of sense to me. Atlanta found themselves without a parachute when the Matt Ryan era abruptly ended.
Yes, the Falcons just signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. If you look at the details of Cousins’ deals, the dead cap money drops significantly after the first two seasons.
Let’s say Penix is able to play sooner than expected, Cousins is sure to have a trade market just as he had in free agency. As the Falcons explained, the franchise does not expect to have a top-10 pick anytime soon with Cousins as QB1.
.@LordDontLose explains why he LOVED the Michael Penix Jr. pick for Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/VxN3n1ud0q
— Rotoworld Football (@rotoworld_fb) April 30, 2024
Atlanta opted for an early catch of what is difficult to find later in the draft: a future starting quarterback. The Falcons can find high-caliber pass rushers, receivers, and any of the other positions later in the draft. It is worth noting that the first defensive player was not selected until No. 15.
It was not just the Falcons who were skeptical of using a top-10 pick on a defender. Atlanta now has the most important position in sports locked up for the next decade or so.
Let’s take a look at how the rest of the Falcons draft shakes out.
Falcons Double Down on Pass Rush, Land Relentless Bralen Trice
Atlanta went on to use their next three picks to bolster their defensive line and pass rush. The Falcons picked up a pair of defensive tackles in Clemson’s Ruke Orhorhoro and Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus in rounds two through four.
One pick that deserves attention is Washington pass rusher Bralen Trice. The former Huskies standout was one of Washington’s best defenders on their way to making a run to the national championship game.
Most pressures by an edge in 2023: Bralen Trice (81)
Most pressures by a DT since 2021:@brandon_dorlus (134)
Both are now Atlanta Falcons #DirtyBirds pic.twitter.com/ZuhtnIpczq
— 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚 (@ATLFalconsMuse) May 2, 2024
New Falcons Pass Rusher Bralen Trice Posted Back-to-Back Seasons With Double-Digit Sacks
Trice posted back-to-back seasons with 11 or more sacks. The newest Falcons pass rusher plans to bring a big-time motor to the ATL.
“I look at people like (Las Vegas Raiders defensive end) Maxx Crosby,” Trice explained, per The Athletic. “At the end of the day as a pass rusher, if you have a motor like that, no matter how many times somebody tries to block you, there’s going to be a time you get through there and put the quarterback on the ground.”
Washington’s Bralen Trice with a euro-club-swim to beat the OT inside for the sack.
Trice is Washington’s top defensive prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class and a potential top-50 pick. pic.twitter.com/Zvz1OfbMhG
— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) January 2, 2024
Falcons Snag Underrated Jase McClellan to Complement Bijan Robinson
Atlanta also added some potential depth at running back by snagging former Alabama standout Jase McClellan in the sixth round. Assuming McClellan makes the final roster, the running back could be used to spell Bijan Robinson.
“He runs with excellent pad level and loose hips, creating impressive contact balance to extend runs through contact,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein detailed in his pre-draft profile of McClellan. “The numbers don’t shine in the passing game, but he’s very capable of handling all aspects of third-down football. He’s an instinctive runner with three-down talent who could end up outplaying his draft slotting on the right team.”
Welcome to the Falcons, Jase McClellan‼️pic.twitter.com/wUkft95ffg https://t.co/FEW2Zu8aXp
— Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) April 27, 2024
Okay, Back to the Puzzling Penix Selection
Most fans are still stuck on taking Penix at No. 8, so let’s revisit the selection one more time. Here’s how Falcons head coach Raheem Morris explained the pick despite just signing Cousins this offseason.
Some more Michael Penix, Jr. thoughts.
Atlanta did this to avoid the dreaded place they’ve been the last few years: QB Purgatory pic.twitter.com/jpZUex0m57
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 26, 2024
“It’s pretty simple for us: When you get Kirk Cousins, and you talk about short-term winning and talk about winning right now, which we know we will be in a position to do, we won’t have the ability to be picking this high again with the guy that we got,” head coach Raheem Morris explained, per Pro Football Talk. “We were lucky enough to watch Matt Ryan play 14 years . . . with the Atlanta Falcons. At some point, you’ve got to find a way to have that succession plan in place. It just so happened it presented itself tonight.”
Despite the Falcons getting plenty of failing grades, I like what Atlanta did by getting a potential star quarterback in Penix and then loading up on defenders. If the Falcons are able to do what the Packers did with Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love, it is hard to imagine the criticism will continue in the coming years. If so, the Falcons will continue to be among the favorites in Las Vegas odds.
Questions of the Day
How long is Kirk Cousins’ contract with the Atlanta Falcons?
Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons.
Who did the Atlanta Falcons draft after Michael Penix Jr.?
The Falcons drafted Clemson defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro in the second round.
