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NFL World Floored by Falcons Taking Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 in NFL Draft
On March 13, the Atlanta Falcons inked quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract. The signing appeared to put the Falcons' quarterback situation to bed for the foreseeable future...
... until Thursday evening.
In a move that dropped every jaw in Detroit—and millions more watching on television, especially in Georgia—the Falcons drafted Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.
Penix had a special college career, finishing in the top 10 in the Heisman voting in both his seasons with the Huskies. However, he tore his ACL twice at Indiana, and speculation abounded that his medicals would spook NFL suitors.
The Falcons have selected Michael Penix with the No. 8 pick, per source.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 26, 2024
When reports of Penix's selection first emerged, some wondered if they'd been had.
New Onion management already striking hard https://t.co/wSgHsN3s4W
— Patrick Daugherty (@RotoPat) April 26, 2024
Many noted Cousins's poor luck, especially a season after tearing an Achilles tendon.
The Vikings never drafted a first rounder to develop behind Kirk Cousins and now the Falcons did before Cousins has even started his first game there. Wild. https://t.co/K9EBEyrxSY
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) April 26, 2024
Penix's advanced age was also a topic of discussion.
He's the same age as Cousins.
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) April 26, 2024
Not really, but still. Like, what? https://t.co/HEzjc4SFHB
Fans wondered whether Penix was caught off guard as well.
Michael Penix seeing his name get called https://t.co/GW91sOo8Yv pic.twitter.com/bE9ZsAixY4
— Conor Sheeran (@conor__sheeran) April 26, 2024
Eras of the NFL come and go, but Atlanta—nearly six decades into its existence—remains a mystery.
Falcons have no plan ever https://t.co/yEz0rBkiSt
— Mike (@85mf) April 26, 2024
Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .