5 Rookies the Atlanta Falcons Will Regret Not Selecting After the 2024 Season

It’s not hard to make a case that the Falcons will regret taking Michael Penix Jr. over any other first-rounder. You have a quarterback who will have to battle Taylor Heinicke for the backup role. That’s the pick you spent the 8th overall pick on, a player who isn’t expected to play for the franchise for at least two seasons.

If Cousins ​​plays at a high level over the next three years, you could throw away Michael’s entire rookie contract. Whether or not he’s the solution isn’t the question here in the long run. It’s just about looking for players who will have good seasons and help Atlanta take a step forward as a playoff threat.

It’s not hard to make the case that the Falcons should have gone in a different direction, and it’s been made consistently. This isn’t about looking at the long-term argument here, but simply looking at the rookies who will have a big impact on their respective teams while Penix warms the bench.

This isn’t an indictment of Penix as a person or player, but simply the reality of what Atlanta has pushed the rookie into. If Cousins ​​is healthy, Penix has no chance of making an impact this season. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five players Atlanta will regret letting go of this season.