Former Huskies quarterback linked to Atlanta Falcons in NFL Draft
Before the 2024 NFL Draft, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of the Washington Huskies is still being linked to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Atlanta Falcons are once again in the conversation when it comes to quarterbacks going into the NFL Draft, even though they signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract this spring.
The long-term status of the job is under question in Atlanta, and Michael Penix Jr., a former signal caller for the University of Washington, might be the answer.
The Falcons have been in close contact with Penix during the pre-draft process. The Falcons sent assistant general manager Kyle Smith to the Huskies’ pro day, head coach Raheem Morris, general manager Terry Fontenot, and other team members to Washington for a private workout, and they held a formal meeting at the NFL Combine.
The two quarterbacks the Falcons have seen the most this spring are Penix and former South Carolina standout Spencer Rattler. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler speculates that Atlanta may pursue a passer early, namely Penix.
On Sunday on SportsCenter, Fowler stated, “The Falcons are definitely a candidate to get a passer at some point in the draft.” “GM Terry Fontenot did not select a player in the first two rounds of his first three drafts. Michael Penix Jr. was with them for a while. This is fascinating.
Desmond Ridder, the lone signal caller Fontenot has drafted at the head of the team, was chosen by Atlanta in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Penix might, however, buck that trend; this could have been prompted by the Falcons’ five-hour travel to watch him toss passes to tight end Jack Westover and receiver Ja’Lynn Polk of Washington.
According to Fowler, “they traveled all the way to see him throw for a few hours and then turned around and went home when they went to visit him in Seattle in early April.” “They didn’t stay overnight, have dinner, or do anything else. That gave me some insight into the subject matter.
“Now, is that too rich for Penix at number eight overall? Perhaps, but it’s unlikely that he will be available when they select 43rd overall in the second round.
Morris and Fontenot have both stated that the Falcons plan to add a third quarterback this offseason, and the draft is undoubtedly a possibility.
However, Atlanta is clearly in the market for a No. 3 passer with Cousins locked up as the starter and Taylor Heinicke under contract as the backup; this is hardly the kind of player a team in a win-now situation should be searching for with a top-10 choice.
Do they select a passer at some point? Perhaps, Fowler said. Are pass rushers taken by them? At No. 8 overall, that is most likely the safest choice.
The NFL Draft 2024 gets underway in Detroit on April 25.
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