The Falcons secured their first-round pick Friday as Michael Penix Jr. inked his four-year rookie deal, as reported by Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. With Penix signed, only Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels remain unsigned among rookie quarterbacks. Penix’s contract includes a fully guaranteed deal with a fifth-year option, which the Falcons can exercise until May 2027. Despite having recently signed Kirk Cousins to a lucrative deal in March, the Falcons surprised many by drafting Penix eighth overall. This decision, minutes before the pick, involved input from team owner Arthur Blank and initial scouting reports from Joel Collier. While Penix received reps with the second and third teams during offseason activities, he is expected to serve as Cousins’ primary backup once the season commences. Cousins, recovering from Achilles surgery, is on track for training camp, solidifying his position as the starting quarterback for now. However, speculation has already surfaced about a potential trade scenario involving Cousins after this season, although the Falcons would face significant financial implications until 2026. Penix joins Atlanta after an impressive 2023 season, leading Division I-FBS with 4,903 passing yards and 36 touchdowns for the national championship-contending Huskies. Despite concerns from scouts about his injury history and mechanics, Penix’s talent was highly regarded by coaches. While the Raiders were considered potential suitors at pick 13, they did not aim to trade up, leaving Penix in a unique position potentially to develop behind Cousins for the foreseeable future.
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