First Down Kentucky: Atlanta Falcons deliver this year's NFL Draft surprise

The NFL Draft is the best non-game event on the sports calendar. I do not believe there is a close second. The league has really leaned into the entertainment part of this tentpole offseason event taking the draft on the road over the last decade. That has built some incredible environments and ramped up the drama of a live television event.

On Thursday night, the Atlanta Falcons gave us one of the biggest draft surprises in recent memory when they shockingly took Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall.

Why was this a wild pick by Atlanta? Likely because this franchise appeared to be all-in on the next two or three seasons after making a coaching staff change and paying big money for Kirk Cousins in free agency. Instead of betting on one quarterback with a concerning injury situation, the Falcons are betting on two quarterbacks with injury situations.

Penix has dealt with major knee and shoulder injuries during his collegiate career and was considered QB4 with a second-round grade by many entering the draft. General manager Terry Fontenot delivered a true stunner.

Instead of using top-10 draft capital to give new head coach Raheem Morris a cornerstone piece on defense, Atlanta drafted a backup to their big-ticket free agency addition. What a wild move from a franchise that seems determined to make the playoffs this year.

You cannot say the NFL is boring.

A big Day 2 possible for Kentucky

No Kentucky players came off the board for the third season in a row, but that was expected in 2024. Two Wildcats are well within draft range on Day 2. A third might have a chance to sneak into round three.

Andru Phillips crushed the pre-draft process and has a chance to come off the board at the end of round two. In a down off-ball linebacker class, Trevin Wallace‘s physical athletic traits could get him into the third round after showing improvement on the field each year at Kentucky. Ray Davis will likely have to wait for Day 3, but if the run on tailbacks come earlier than expected after an offense-heavy Day 1, Davis could find his way into the end of round three.

KSR will be here throughout the weekend to provide non-stop coverage of the career fair spectacle.

KSR’s Ultimate NFL Draft Guide

Latest in the Transfer Portal

The spring transfer portal window closes next week, but decisions and visits will continue to be made and scheduled over the next few weeks. Kentucky has worked quietly to get targets on campus, and a visit from Michigan cornerback transfer DJ Waller Jr. could be right around the corner.

Louisville tailback transfer Peny Boone visited Kentucky on Monday, and the Wildcats are currently considered the favorites to land the former MAC Offensive Player of the Year. UCLA transfer Collin Schlee was another confirmed visitor, but the super senior will visit an ACC program this weekend.

Kyron Drones is entrenched as Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback after a good 2023 season (2,085 passing yards, 818 rushing yards, 22 total touchdowns). That means the Hokies are also recruiting Schlee as a backup and gadget wrinkle. I give Kentucky a good chance to record a surprise recruiting win for the former QB1 at Kent State.

I’m not sure we will see any commitments this weekend, but early next week decisions will start being made as Kentucky begins to finalize the 2024 roster.

Kentucky is a finalist for Keon Young

Lakeland (Fla.) High safety Keon Young is a top-250 recruit in the class of 2025. The four-star prospect is now down to three schools. Kentucky has made the cut.

“USF, Ole Miss and Kentucky are my top schools,” Young told On3. “I have canceled all the other visits and I will only take official visits to those three schools. I will be at Ole Miss on May 31, South Florida on June 14 and Kentucky on June 21. Those are the final schools I am focused on.”

The Wildcats have locked in an official visit with the blue-chip prospect and should have a great chance at recruiting a blue-chip recruiting win in the Sunshine State this summer.