Michael

Penix Jr.

Morris said that Cousins was just knocking off the rust in his nightmarish Atlanta debut. Cousins threw for 155 yards, one touchdown, and two picks in the Falcons’ Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh. The veteran quarterback was playing in his first game back from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 8 of the 2023 season. Film watchers and casual fans alike were quick to note his inability to drive off his plant foot and put velocity on the football. Morris may be right and Cousins is just getting back into the swing of things, but this is a situation to monitor going forward. Should Cousins not regain his form, No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. is waiting in the wings.

The report comes just hours after Penix was ruled inactive for the team’s second preseason game, sparking the rumor mill as to why the team’s first-round selection would not suit up for reps under center at the professional level. There is sure to be more to come in this developing story.

Penix was spotted in street clothes at the start of the game, but the team said this was strictly a coach’s decision and not injury-related. It’s a bit of an odd decision for the Falcons not to give their first-round pick reps in the preseason before sitting him all season behind Kirk Cousins, but it’s there’s still a chance to play him in their preseason finale next weekend against the Jaguars.

Penix underwhelmed from an efficiency standpoint, averaging 6.5 yards per passing attempt and completing just 56.3% of passes. He showcased his arm talent on an explosive pass-play connection with WR Chris Blair along the sideline though. The game’s biggest takeaway comes via PFF’s Nathan Jahnke, who notes the Falcons used three-wide receiver sets on 23-of-24 first-team snaps, affirming OC Zac Robinson’s implementation of his mentor Sean McVay’s three-wide system.

The team has yet to actually announce a starter for today’s game but with Penix officially sitting in the depth chart‘s No. 2 QB spot, it is safe to assume viewers will get their first look at Penix as a pro. Penix’s expected snap count is unknown at this time but it stands to reason the front office will aim to justify its selection of a backup quarterback with the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft. An extended showing is possible.

Going against the Falcons’ first-team defense, Penix has made precise short-area throws and downfield connections while commanding the huddle. “He’s come along fast with the operational elements he had to learn, getting guys in and out of the huddle, and he’s getting a better feel for progressing to the backside of some of the Falcons’ new passing concepts,” Breer said. Penix’s ability to hit pass catchers down the field has caught coaches’ attention, Breer added, adding Penix has “a handful of wow throws every week.” One of the most experienced incoming NFL rookies in modern history, Penix should be able to operate the Atlanta offense should Kirk Cousins miss any time this season.

Per Jordan Schultz, the deal includes a $13.46 million signing bonus. The Falcons shocked fans, and starting QB Kirk Cousins alike, by selecting Penix with the No. 8 overall pick. An NFL-ready passer, Penix’s 90.5 PFF passing grade, 7.3% big-time-throw rate and 10.7-yard average depth of target rank top-six among 35 Power Five quarterbacks with at least 370 dropbacks in 2023. Penix is equipped to run the offense, should complications arise during Cousins’ rehabilitation from an Achilles tendon rupture, suffered by his right plant-foot.

Caleb Williams was presumably the only QB Atlanta’s front office had ranked above Penix, who the team took with the eighth pick. Fowler said Falcons owner Arthur Blank “loomed large” in the decision to take Penix with a top-10 pick. Blank, per Fowler, “fully endorsed long-term stability at the position, which Kirk Cousins, at age 35, cannot satisfy to the same degree.” After Matt Ryan and Michael Vick ran the Atlanta offense for the better part of two decades, Blank has no interest in a quarterback “carousel,” Fowler said. The strong-armed Penix, 24, should get a fair number of QB1 snaps for the Falcons in this summer’s minicamp and maybe in training camp if Cousins isn’t fully recovered from his 2023 Achilles tear. There remains little chance of Penix starting in 2024.

Fresh off signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, the Falcons pulled off arguably the biggest surprise of the draft with the selection of Penix (6'2/216). Penix is one of the older prospects in this year’s class. His six seasons in college were marred with injuries early on, but in two seasons at Washington, the strong-armed lefty finally began to turn a corner. Over the last two years, Penix has thrown for 9,544-67-19 while completing 65.4 percent of his passes. Penix is a wizard in the pocket when it comes to avoiding sacks. His 6.5 percent pressure-to-sack rate for his career is perhaps the best of any quarterback to enter the league since the stat has been tracked and makes up for his inability to break off big runs from the pocket. Penix finished second in Heisman voting in 2023. His timing and accuracy have been drawn into question throughout his career, but Penix is a fairly polished prospect who could start games early in his career in the right system. His lengthy injury history is a major concern, but he’s stayed healthy over the last two years. Now, with the Falcons, he’ll have a chance to sit behind Kirk Cousins for a few years before inevitably being ushered in as the starter.

The team would like to land LSU’s Jayden Daniels but likely won’t have that opportunity with Washington reportedly set on taking Daniels with the second overall pick. That could leave the Raiders with Penix or Bo Nix as the last viable quarterback options if they want to avoid being shutout at QB. Graziano said “if the quarterback market starts drying up quickly and they feel they need to trade up in order to avoid being shut out, the Chargers at No. 5 and the Titans at No. 7 are two teams that people believe are willing to trade down.” Penix would likely be a big upgrade for Vegas pass catchers, including Davante Adams.