Falcons drafting QB Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall picks up more steam
The Atlanta Falcons could go any direction at No. 8 overall but as of Monday morning, they've been heavily linked to Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. ESPN's Adam Schefter shared in his latest buzz article that one NFL general manager is hearing Penix could go to Atlanta in the first round. "One NFL general manager […]
The Atlanta Falcons could go any direction at No. 8 overall but as of Monday morning, they've been heavily linked to Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
ESPN's Adam Schefter shared in his latest buzz article that one NFL general manager is hearing Penix could go to Atlanta in the first round.
"One NFL general manager said he believes 'there is an undercurrent of support for Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix,' even though his team doesn’t have a first-round grade on either. This particular general manager said he believes both Penix Jr. and Nix are Day 2 picks. Some teams disagree, and there now is speculation Penix could go as high as No. 8 to the Falcons,” Schefter writes.
That pick would be odd considering the Falcons signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a $180 million, four-year deal with $100 million guaranteed in NFL free agency, so using their first pick on a quarterback wouldn't make too much sense.
Where it gets even more interesting, however, is what Jeremy Fowler said during an appearance on SportsCenter over the weekend.
"The Falcons are certainly a candidate to get a passer at some point in the draft," Fowler said (h/t Sports Illustrated's Tyler Foreness). "GM Terry Fontenot in his first three drafts did not take one in the first two rounds. They spent some time with Michael Penix Jr. This is interesting. When they went to visit him in Seattle for a private workout in early April, the whole contingent went, the head coach Raheem Morris, Fontenot, they flew all the way to Seattle just to watch him throw for a few hours and turned around and went home. They didn't do dinner or stay the night or anything. That told me something as far as interest."
Fowler noted that No. 8 could be too high for Penix, but he likely won't be there when the Falcons are on the clock in Round 2.
"Now, No. 8 overall, is that too rich for Penix? Maybe, but he's probably not there when they pick 43rd overall in the second round," Fowler said. "So, these are the thoughts that go on and so do they pick a passer somewhere? Maybe. Do they take a pass rusher? That's probably the safer pick at No. 8 overall."
It's hard to imagine Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot selects a quarterback that early, especially knowing he has a "best available" mindset when it comes to the draft.
The good news is that the waiting and guessing game will be over in three days when Round 1 of the draft kicks off on Thursday, April 27.
