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Friday, April 26, 2024

As the Falcons Falcon

Falcons had the 8th pick in the draft because they were the 8th worst team, right? Plenty of needs: O line, pretty much everywhere on defense…particularly on the edge and at cornerback. Falcons had signed veteran QB Kirk Cousins to a huge contract, eating up even more of the already topped out cap space. Sure Cousins is old and coming off an achilles injury. Do the Falcons think he might not be ready for the season?

With so many other needs, why did the Falcons spend the 8th pick in the draft on another QB? One with two ACL surgeries under his belt? No spring chicken himself, Penix will be 28 when Cousin’s contract expires. Falcons gotta spend first round money to sign Penix. Even less money to plug all those other gaps they need. Inexplicable.

There are great QB’s in every draft. Could’ve have waited a year or two? Fan and media reaction to the Penix pick is overwhelmingly negative. The Falcons need to explain what their strategy is, if there was one. There was a clip of owner Arthur Blank having terse words with his GM moments after the pick. No other NFL team has two high priced QBs on the roster. Only the Falcons.

The Phenix pick sucks for several reasons. Age. Injury-prone. Some question his arm strength and throwing motion, others can't say enough good things about him. Three QB’s were selected ahead of Penix. Two more QBs were snapped up soon thereafter. Between Penix, JJ McCarthy, and Bo Nix, I would’ve drafted an edge rusher. McCarthy may not be Johnny Unitas, but I’d rate him above Phenix. Hopefully the Washington Huskies signal-caller will prove me wrong. Penix started his college career at Indiana, where he led the Hoosiers to more wins than they were used to.

So hard to root for the Falcons. Word is that Kirk Cousins wasn’t told of the pick until the team was on the clock. Cousins was said to be disappointed the team didn’t use the pick to fill a need. He’s not alone. Welcome to Loserville. The Falcons have had a top ten draft pick 28 times in their history – almost half of their history. Sad.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://theathletic.com/5447386/2024/04/25/kirk-cousins-michael-penix-jr-falcons-draft-reaction/__;!!AE29DT8V!QnYbSlqY2qf6nrjtOmnXISdNimc3TrOYSL5nbwbYxjhMClCEZ1fdtDnITS42Urx5z9BgpljHP8YisYan-tg$

Falcons may be stashing Penix as the backup during the Cousins years, like the Packers did first with Aaron Rodgers then later with Jordan Love – but the Packers were a perennial playoff team. Rodgers was picked 26th and Love 24th. Packers had a 13-3 record the year before they drafted Love. Packers won one Super Bowl with Rodgers. Had they drafted another position instead of Love, perhaps they would’ve won more. QB is the most important position in the NFL. Just not sure the Falcons are in a position to make such a “luxury” move.

Right or wrong, the nation is laughing at the Falcons. The explanations coming from Flowery Branch are full of holes. If they wanted Penix so much, they shouldn’t have taken all that money on Cousins – breaking rules even to sign Cousins. Hard to make a top 8 pick on someone who won’t play for two years. What do the Falcons want to happen? For Cousins to get hurt? Play poorly? For Cousins to lead Atlanta to five straight Super Bowls – and Penix never sees the field?

Are the Falcons a better team after their pick? Phil Simms loves Penix’s strong arm, calling it better, more accurate than Mike Vick’s. But if the Falcons dump Cousins after two seasons, they take a $25 million cap hit. They’ve really painted themselves into a corner.

The Falcons new head coach said the Penix pick was best for the long term future of the Falcons. That’s great, but how long will the coach be around if the Falcons don’t have the players to win immediately? But if he gets increased production from QB, RB, TE, & WR perhaps that will swing close losses into wins. Bucs and Saints have better rosters, so it won’t be a cakewalk. At least Cousins called Penix to welcome to the team. Class act.

Should’ve watched the Sixers. Happy to see the Lakers flop again. Think Michael Jordan was ever down 0-3 in an opening round playoff series?

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