The Atlanta Falcons made a surprising move in the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick, a decision that caught many, including some NFL front offices, off guard.
“The Penix move turned the draft on its head,” an anonymous front office member told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “The room perked up after that selection.”
The Falcons’ choice was unexpected given their recent acquisition of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom they signed to a substantial four-year, $180 million deal, including a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac. With Cousins expected to lead the team, the quarterback situation in Atlanta seemed resolved prior to the draft.
Penix, who had an outstanding senior year at Washington, completing 65.4 percent of his passes for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns, was anticipated to be a quick contributor in the NFL. However, he will begin his professional career as a backup to Cousins.
Adding to the draft day drama, the Falcons faced a minor social media blunder. In an Instagram post, they accidentally misspelled Penix’s last name as “Penis,” leading to some embarrassment.
The error was quickly corrected, but not before it was noticed and shared by social media users, one of whom was blocked after exposing the mistake.