(Photo : Stacy Revere/Getty Images) INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – General supervisor Terry Fontenot of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to the media through the NFL Combine on the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Analysts and followers weren’t bought on the Atlanta Falcons’ resolution to pick out a quarterback with their eighth decide within the first spherical.
The staff picked 2023 Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. from the Washington Huskies.
Critics weren’t impressed, not as a result of Penix Jr. will not be a superb participant however as a result of the staff already has Kirk Cousins, whom they splashed cash on to maintain long-term.
So, how will their prized rookie be used?
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General supervisor Terry Fontenot defined their resolution by stating their religion within the 23-year-old left-handed quarterback.
He felt he could not let the chance to take a high quality play-caller get wasted.
What about Cousins? Fontenot stated they’re creating a superb drawback.
“If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him,” Fontenot stated throughout a press convention.
“And if he sits for four or five years, that’s a great problem to have because we’re doing so well at that position. So, it’s as simple as, if you see a guy you believe in at that position, you have to take him.”
This means Penix can solely get the primary position by the point he’s 28-29 years previous. His supporters have to attend just a little longer for him to indicate his true self.
The transfer shocked numerous followers. It could be remembered that they not too long ago signed cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million assured.
Cousins himself was not bought on the staff’s signing of Penix Jr., in line with reviews.
His agent stated he was shocked and disenchanted that he was saved at nighttime about their draft plans.
“We got no heads up,” the agent stated.
“Kirk got a call from the Falcons when they were on the clock. That was the first we heard. It never came up in any conversation.”
Looks prefer it’s not solely a superb drawback Fontenot and the corporate created.
Left-handed quarterbacks within the NFL
One factor that makes Michael Penix Jr. an thrilling rookie is his unorthodox model.
Although a left-handed quarterback is uncommon within the NFL, he won’t run out of inspiration to sample his sport from.
The Huskies standout revealed that he acquired a textual content message from Falcons legend Michael Vick, one among, if not essentially the most profitable, left-handed quarterbacks within the league’s historical past.
He can be conscious that they’ve some similarities.
“I’m not going to say me and his games are the same,” Penix stated.
“He did a lot of creating. I feel like we both throw the ball very well. … I think people see him create plays and forget he had a cannon. He flicked the ball like it was effortless.”
Vick was the Falcons’ 2001 No. 1 general draft decide. He was a part of Atlanta for eight years, two years of these on suspension.
He holds the league document for many speeding yards by a quarterback at 6,109.
Penix Jr. has the makings of a terrific quarterback. Of course, this all is determined by how a lot he’s used.
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