Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. makes his case for backup QB job

The Atlanta Falcons decided to select Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Many people had questions: some called it the worst pick ever, and others said Penix wasn’t ready for NFL action in his rookie year.

However, in the early stages of training camp at IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, Georgia, the rookie has been as good as expected, if not better.

Early in camp, Penix Jr. has been sharp. He’s thrown tight spirals, looked cool, calm and collected, and has made some beautiful deep-ball throws by the Falcons to SI’s own Daniel Flick. Granted, it’s still early and there’s still plenty of training camp and preseason to go, but this should be a welcome sign for the Falcons’ coaching staff and fans.

Penix is ​​in good hands with an experienced coaching staff. He benefited from being surrounded by all the talent in the world in Washington. In the NFL, he will be able to count on players like Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

As a player who has recovered from numerous injuries, his participation throughout the offseason and now in training camp are positive signs for his development. Indeed, he will get plenty of snaps in the preseason with Taylor Heinicke, the team’s current QB2. But last week, he was the star of the show in Atlanta with “Captain Kirk.”

At some point next week, the guards will be installed, which will be an accurate measure of the recruit’s merit.

Since Matt Ryan left in 2021, the entire organization has had a dark time. He brought stability to the franchise under the center position for 14 years with four Pro Bowls, an All-Pro and an MVP season that is impossible to replace.

So while people outside the organization can easily criticize and condemn the selection of Penix Jr., Atlanta can enjoy another 14 years of stability under center with Kirk Cousins ​​and the addition of a rookie. They are on a great development path for their rookie when training camp begins in 2024.