Michael Penix

ANALYSIS
It's a stunning pick for Atlanta to make, both because Penix wasn't expected to go this high and because the Falcons just gave Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract. Penix will be about 24.5 years old as a rookie, and he'll have no shot to play anytime soon if Cousins is healthy. Penix in any case boasts a uniquely strong arm, and he was memorably good at avoiding sacks as a college quarterback. Before Penix emerged as a star passer for Washington he did his best to carry the Indiana program before that, but unsurprisingly he found it easier to move the ball in a Washington offense with three NFL receivers and two NFL tackles. Despite possessing a 40-yard dash time just under the 4.60 mark, Penix very rarely attempted to run in college and therefore is unlikely to leverage his speed in the form of rushing production at the NFL level. It's possible that Penix's lack of rushing activity was influenced somewhat by his injury history, as he tore his ACL twice (2018 and 2020).

ANALYSIS
Cousins was said to have been initially alarmed by the Falcons' decision to draft a quarterback that high after the veteran signal-caller signed a four-year, $180 million deal this offseason. However, he apparently reconciled his feelings later in the night, as Penix, a standout at the University of Washington, confirmed the call was initiated by his new teammate. Penix would not reveal the details of the talk, only describing it as "definitely a good conversation" and adding that he was "super excited" to work with Cousins and that the feeling was reciprocated.