(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
The Atlanta Falcons made the most controversial move of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Just when most people thought they would take a defensive end, they used the No. 8 pick to get a quarterback.
On top of that, they took Michael Penix Jr., who some had going late in the first round or early in the second.
Nonetheless, former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf actually loved the move.
Talking to Kay Adams on her “Up & Adams” show, Leaf claimed that he had Penix as his No. 1 quarterback both last year and this one, so it wasn’t a surprise for him to see a team “reach” to get him.
Best QB in the draft and the @AtlantaFalcons land their QB room for the next decade!! https://t.co/07cM0Mm793
— Ryan D Leaf (@RyanDLeaf) May 22, 2024
Even though they still have Kirk Cousins playing, and that means Penix will sit for at least one or two years, Leaf believes this was the right move because it set the franchise up for success for the next decade.
Of course, chances are that Penix could’ve been available later, but it’s highly unlikely that he would’ve gotten past, say, the Las Vegas Raiders.
The two concerns about Penix are his injury-proneness and his age, as he’s already 24 years old.
Also, perhaps it didn’t make much sense to give a veteran quarterback a lot of money just to take another quarterback in the first round a couple of weeks later.
Still, Penix’s arm talent is perhaps the best in his class, and if Cousins isn’t healthy to start the season or gets hurt at some point, he could force the Falcons to have some tough conversations.
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