The Atlanta Falcons shocked the NFL world on Thursday evening after they chosen quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 total choose after signing Kirk Cousins.
Penix will probably begin the season as Cousins’ backup. The previous Minnesota Vikings star signed a four-year contract with the Falcons in March, reportedly value $180 million. The Penix choose on high of the deal made many followers and analysts confused.
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On Monday, former Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden appeared on OutKick’s “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich” and gave his professional opinion on what the Falcons did. Gruden was in an analogous state of affairs in 2012, when Washington took Robert Griffin III No. 2 total and later chosen Cousins within the fourth spherical.
Gruden was compelled to navigate that tough state of affairs. The distinction for the Falcons is that Cousins is exiting the prime of his profession, and Penix could possibly be the quarterback of the longer term.
“I feel this fashion, what the Falcons did this yr, is a little bit bit odd to me, particularly with all of the wants they’d on protection,” Gruden advised Dakich. “That they had the choose of the litter on protection so far as cross rush is worried.
“But it surely simply reveals the desperation groups have for locating the quarterback of the longer term. You gotta discover him. You gotta proceed to hunt for them. For those who really feel such as you bought one there and you will get him in your constructing, you gotta take an opportunity. And that’s what Atlanta did.”
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Penix mentioned on Friday he heard from Cousins after the choice was made. He mentioned he could be ready if given the chance to play.
“I do know I’m going to place in a ton of labor to ensure at any time when I do step on that subject it’s not going to be a beat missed,” he mentioned.
Penix’s former Washington Huskies teammate, Rome Odunze, vouched for the quarterback in an interview with Fox Information Digital earlier than the draft.
“I feel every little thing on the sphere, that’s my QB1 on this draft,” the previous Huskies large receiver star mentioned. “I feel he’s an incredible expertise. From what he’s been in a position to do on the sphere, I don’t suppose that there’s something that he actually lacks. He’s going to enhance on all points of his sport, identical to he has prior to now two years.”
Penix led Washington to the nationwide title sport towards Michigan final season. He threw for 4,903 yards and 36 landing passes. In 2022, he had 4,641 passing yards and 31 landing passes. It was throughout these two seasons that he showcased what he’s able to when he’s wholesome.
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