The Falcons were universally killed, with a few exceptions, for drafting Michael Penix, Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in 2024. NFL Draft. Rightly so, given the amount of money they spent on Kirk Cousins as a free agent this offseason. While Cousins has struggled mightily over the past month, Atlanta benched him this week in favor of Penix, leaving the door open for a ton of criticism or a ton of praise or a giant gourd of both.
I fall into the mixed stew category on this one. On the one hand, the Falcons’ plan was solid in that it gave them a backup in case Cousins was bad enough to need to be replaced in the lineup. We need to give teams credit for doing whatever it takes to secure the future at the quarterback position, even if it means spending more than any other team in free agency at the position while simultaneously using their highest possible draft capital at this position.
Think of it as a really, really, REALLY rich version of what the Seahawks did with Matt Flynn and Russell Wilson in 2012. Flynn’s deal was big at the time, but it was much, much smaller than Cousins’ and he hasn’t absorbed a ton of salary cap space and dead money like Cousins will, depending on what the Falcons do with their veteran. Flynn was also a former backup for Seattle, while Cousins was a true high-level starter for the Vikings until his Achilles injury. And Wilson, unlike Penix, was not a top-10 pick, costing the Seahawks only a third-round pick.
So in that sense, it’s not crazy to look at the moves – even in May – and suggest that they might make sense, with Penix serving as both insurance and perhaps the future of the franchise.
But if you loved Penix so much and knew you’d get a top-10 draft pick, why sign Cousins to this massive deal? The Falcons’ defense was a big problem for much of the season, back when Cousins was rolling the ball out for 500 yards per game and Atlanta’s offense was cooking for stretches.
We’ve seen many cases where a front office spends huge on someone else’s veteran — either in a trade or signing or both — and everyone ends up getting fired because the decision backfires and the owner is angry because it doesn’t. It doesn’t work and costs them tens of millions of dollars.
So now the pressure is really increased on Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris. Yes, they had a “plan” and technically the plan “worked” because Penix is able to step in and replace struggling Cousins who has thrown one touchdown and nine interceptions in his last five games, including four lost by the Falcons, with their only win coming against the lowly Raiders on Monday.
The problem for Atlanta – and facing a very bad Giants team at home may have influenced the decision – is that Penix somehow has to be good from the start. They’ve seen it more than anyone, mainly because they decided not to give Penix any preseason reps in live games, so they know better than anyone what he can do. But if he doesn’t look sharp against the Giants or if the Falcons somehow lose to New York on Sunday, a lot of questions will be asked.
Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. The Falcons better hope Penix can fight back, otherwise this team, sitting at 7-7 and in desperation mode for a playoff spot, could see people in some very hot water.
