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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff Writer
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — To understand why Atlanta Falcons became the story of last week’s NFL draft by taking over the quarterback position Michael Penix Jr.. at No. 8 overall, needing to get back to the team’s last franchise quarterback.
From 2008 to 2021, the Falcons can write with a pen who will start at center: Matt Ryan. He was arguably the best player in franchise history, taking the team to Super Bowl LI and was the Most Valuable Player of 2016. Ryan was traded to Indianapolis Colts during the 2022 season, and he officially retired last week after leaving last season to work as a television analyst.
The problem for the Falcons is that they never had a succession plan for Ryan, and the team’s quarterback play has suffered over the past two seasons. As a result, the Falcons have not had a winning season since Ryan was still in his prime, in 2017.
So, three days after Ryan officially announced his retirement, Atlanta drafted Penix, despite having just signed the veteran QB Kirk cousins to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million on March 11. The Falcons’ succession plan for Cousins began before the 35-year-old even played a slump for his new team.
“We are always actively looking for a clear heir, someone with potential, a solution in that position [after Ryan]”Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith said Tuesday. “… It’s the most important position in all of sports and the most expensive position in all of sports.”
While the Falcons were criticized for burning their No. 8 pick at a position they had recently filled, teammates are looking at it like the position is already lined up for the foreseeable future.
Entering the season, quarterback was the Falcons’ biggest need. Combination of Desmond Ridder And Taylor Heinicke led Atlanta to a 7-10 record last season and caused team owner Arthur Blank to label the team’s quarterback play as “deficient.”
The Falcons fired Smith after the season and hired Raheem Morris in January. At the NFL combine in February, Morris said he likely wouldn’t have been in Atlanta if the team’s quarterback play had been better.
“We went from a time of uncertainty in January in that position to where we’ve felt really good for at least five years, as I said,” Smith said Tuesday.
Drafting Penix instead of an impact player who could help in 2024 surprised Cousins, who was informed of the selection as the team was working out. His agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that there is frustration and confusion coming from Cousins’ camp, although McCartney said Cousins understands the business of baseball. kicked and ready to move on. Cousins called Penix on Thursday night and the two had a “very good conversation,” Penix said Friday.
“I’m not surprised,” the Falcons safety said Jessie Bates III talk about drafting another QB. “I know what kind of player [Penix] To be.”
Bates said no one in the organization has discussed the selection with the players and he doesn’t think it’s necessary.
Despite raising eyebrows with the unconventional choice, the Falcons are confident they made the right decision.
“This is the year [a quarterback] fell into your hands, and you were staring at him,” Smith said. “And we did what we said we would always do within the walls, and that was pull the trigger. And we feel really good about that.”
