The Atlanta Falcons’ choice to pick out Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 choose within the 2024 NFL Draft was one of many extra surprising selections in latest draft historical past.
However the Falcons are emphasizing that it was about stability at quarterback. Falcons assistant common supervisor Kyle Smith admitted that developments in the previous couple of seasons triggered them to double-dip at quarterback this offseason, as they signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million cope with $100 million assured in March.
“It was an unsettling feeling, sitting there in ’21,” Smith informed reporters, recalling what it was like when he and common supervisor Terry Fontenot joined the group that yr. “I will always remember sitting there with Terry and being like, ‘OK, nicely, what’s our future? What’s our plan for the long run? How are we going to solidify down the street?’
“It is not nearly this yr or subsequent yr. It is about 5 years minimal.”
The Falcons did not make investments main capital into the quarterback place over the past two seasons. They stored Matt Ryan and his $26.9 million wage on the time as their beginning quarterback in 2021. Nevertheless, after an try and commerce for Deshaun Watson, the Falcons minimize ties with Ryan, buying and selling him to the Indianapolis Colts.
Atlanta double-dipped at quarterback to a far lesser diploma in 2022 than it did this offseason. It gave Marcus Mariota a two-year, $18.75 million deal that yr earlier than drafting Desmond Ridder within the third spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Mariota was the group’s beginning quarterback in 2022, however he was benched late within the yr after throwing for two,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and 9 interceptions because the Falcons went 5-8 within the 13 video games he began. Ridder grew to become the group’s beginning quarterback however was benched on a number of events attributable to poor play. He threw 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 13 video games, inflicting Atlanta to go 7-10 for the third straight season.
The shedding information triggered the Falcons to carry a top-10 choose for the fourth time in Fontenot and Smith’s tenure with the group. They chose ability place gamers as a substitute of a quarterback with their first three top-10 choices. Falcons brass felt this yr was completely different, with proprietor Arthur Clean endorsing the thought of drafting a quarterback with the No. 8 choose, Yahoo! Sports activities reported.
Grading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons’ NFL Draft picks
“That is the primary yr that we have been sitting there and staring down the barrel at a participant that we expect could be that man,” Smith mentioned.
Whereas Smith and the Falcons really feel strongly about Penix, the choice nonetheless left many scratching their heads. That they had given Cousins a large deal simply over a month previous to the draft.
There’s a caveat with Cousins’ deal, nevertheless. The Falcons can get Cousins with out a cost following the 2025 season, seemingly opening a path for Penix to take over in 2026 if the veteran struggles, if not sooner. Cousins can also be turning 36 in August and coming off an Achilles tear.
Whereas Cousins and his group have been blindsided by the group’s choice to draft Penix, Smith continued to insist that it was nearly including expertise to the quarterback room.
“What we did to get Kirk Cousins ought to inform all people that we imagine in Kirk Cousins,” Smith mentioned. “He is our man. We set ourselves up.
“Then, within the draft, Michael Penix was there. It is a quarterback — a younger quarterback — that we imagine in. We pulled that set off.
“I imply, that is as clear as I can say it.”
No matter how outsiders really feel in regards to the scenario, Atlanta appears to have the perfect feeling about its quarterback room it is had in years.
“For the subsequent 5 years, we really feel nice in regards to the place,” Smith mentioned. “Minimal.”
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