Mel Kiper explains the one scenario that would make Falcons drafting Michael Penix Jr. a win-win

The Atlanta Falcons made the most surprising pick of the 2024 NFL Draft when they selected former quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick.

Atlanta, fresh off giving veteran signal caller Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal this offseason, had other pressing needs such as outside linebacker but decided to grab a quarterback for the future. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper, though he believes the pick was a reach, sees a possible win-win scenario for the Falcons.

Kiper, giving his draft grades, said that Atlanta could be big winners if Cousins performs well following a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023 and leads the Falcons to a Super Bowl before Penix takes over a couple of years down the road.

“If Kirk Cousins coming off the injury isn’t the same at age 36, you turn the page and go to Michael Penix Jr.,” Kiper said. “Then what does Michael Penix Jr. become? The win-win here is if Kirk Cousins develops big time, takes you to a Super Bowl, has a big-time year and he shakes off the Achilles [injury] that he had and has a Super Bowl year. And then Michael Penix Jr. takes over in a couple of years and he develops into a great quarterback. That’s a grand slam. So, we have to see Kirk — is he still a plateau and what does Michael Penix Jr. develop into. They put themselves in a position where it could be a win-win.”

The selection of Penix not only caught draft analysts and fans off guard, but reportedly left Cousins “stunned.” According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Cousins wasn’t informed the team would be taking a quarterback until the Falcons were on the clock.

Falcons GM explains selection of Michael Penix Jr.

Penix, who turns 24 next month, is coming off an outstanding season with the Huskies, in which he finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. He threw for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 65.4% passing. Penix led Washington to an undefeated regular season and Pac-12 championship, and helped the Huskies defeat Texas, 37-31, in the College Football Playoff Semifinal. Washington failed to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, falling to Michigan, 34-13. He sustained season-ending injuries in each of his four seasons at Indiana before transferring to Washington in 2022, including torn ACLs in 2018 and 2020.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said the team had the future in mind when making the decision to draft Penix, emphasizing that Cousins is their quarterback for the short-term.

“Kirk Cousins is our quarterback,” Fontenot said. “We’re very excited about Kirk. We’re very excited about this team. Michael Penix is… we’re talking about the future. You look at the future. You look at the big picture. We are very excited about that quarterback room, and again, Kirk is our quarterback. But adding Michael Penix is thinking about the future.”