Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, Michael Penix Jr. was perhaps one of the most intriguing players on the big board. The former Washington Huskies quarterback was considered a surefire first-round selection but didn’t seem to inspire the same amount of attention as some of his contemporaries.
After leading his squad to the National Championship Game in his senior season, he ended up being taken as the fourth QB chosen and the eighth overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons… a move that drew criticism from fans, media, and some NFL executives.
Based on his stats, that seems almost unfathomable. Michael Penix Jr. led the nation in passing with 4,903 yards, setting the school record. He also had 36 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions with a 157.1 passer rating – good enough to finish second in the Heisman Trophy balloting behind LSU’s Jayden Daniels. He has all the credentials to potentially be a star in The League, so why is this prolific passer considered a gamble for the Dirty Birds?
Criticisms of Falcons’ Selection of Michael Penix Jr
His numbers notwithstanding, there were still concerns about Penix Jr. and how much upside he had at the pro level. For one, he was 26, after having played an extended college career, due to an early transfer from Indiana and the COVID extension afforded NCAA athletes following the pandemic.
Secondly, his stats couldn’t hide that the Southpaw signal caller throws a lot of what many scouts call ’50/50 passes’ – the kind that can either be spectacular or picked off. Many feared there was no real in-between for the Huskies’ QB. And while he didn’t have a penchant for turnovers in college, defensive backs in the NFL won’t miss those kinds of throws.
Oof, Falcons.
Anonymous NFL execs are just as perplexed by the Michael Penix pick as the public, they tell @SandoNFL.
In fact, one says, there's only one reason to justify the move.
More thoughts on every NFC team's NFL Draft activities ⤵️https://t.co/S2jrq9Kdpw pic.twitter.com/hOeKgcpmc0
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 2, 2024
Micahel Penix entered the 2023 NFL Draft Combine with a lot of question marks for a guy who was expected to be a franchise quarterback someday. Not the least of which was how he threw on the move.
“Outside of durability, scouts wanted to see how well Penix played when defenses knocked him off his initial launch point in the pocket,” Jordan Reid of ESPN wrote at the time. We saw those issues bubble up in the title game. He can easily scan the field and make throws from a clean pocket, but there are still questions about how he handles pressure. In 15 games, Penix was hit on 21.5 percent of his dropbacks (11th-least in the nation) and sacked 11 times. But when he gets outside the pocket, he completed 38.5 percent of his throws, 114th in the country.”
Developing the Rookie Quarterback
The good news for Michael Penix Jr. is that the Falcons won’t need to step in right away. With veteran Kirk Cousins taking the helm this season in Hot-Lanta, it’s expected the rookie will sit under the veteran’s learning tree. At least for the foreseeable future.
For his long-term future, that’s probably what’s best for the 6’2″, 216-pound Penix Jr. It’s clear that he has some flaws in his game. So perhaps two years playing behind Cousins, who signed a $100 million free-agent contract with the team. after departing Minnesota.
Here's #Falcons OC Zac Robinson talking about Michael Penix Jr learning from Kirk Cousins:
"He's digesting everything and what a great guy to learn from in Kirk."
"Definitely have seen some good strides from Mike in this short amount of time." pic.twitter.com/ijXxroyIeu— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) May 22, 2024
Given that timeframe, his maturity, and the knowledge he gains on the bench, Michael Penix Jr. should be expected to have a productive – if not potent – NFL career. And even if the Falcons only get 5-7 years of him starting under center, it allows both the QB and the franchise the opportunity to prove a lot of the haters wrong.
For More Great Content
Ryan K Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love. His previous work has appeared at The Miami Herald, SB Nation, Bounding into Sports, and Yardbarker. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman.
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
