Awkward footage shows Falcons GM Terry Fontenot explaining why they selected Michael Penix Jr. to owner Arthur Blank
The 2024 NFL Draft was going well.
Then chaos erupted when the Atlanta Falcons shocked the NFL world by selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr with the eighth overall pick.
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The stunning move comes just weeks after former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins signed to a four-year contract worth $180 million in free agency.
Penix Jr. was considered by many to be one of the best players, but few thought he made it into the top ten and the selection came out of nowhere.
Most draft experts predicted the Falcons would select a defensive player.
General manager Terry Fontenot made an incredibly bold move, one that he apparently needs to explain.
Viral footage shows Fontenot awkwardly speaking to team owner Arthur Blank as he tries to explain the reasons for Penix Jr.’s selection.
“brothers fighting for his life,” one fan said.
“Yeah, there’s no explanation for that,” added another.
“I wish I was a fly on the wall there,” wrote a third.
“I’m trying to explain to the boss why they gave Cousins all that money to draft a QB 6 weeks later,” a fourth commented.
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Penix will likely stay behind Cousins for the next two years with an eye toward becoming his successor.
Cousins is 35 years old and coming off an Achilles injury, but recently signed a lucrative deal.
Fans couldn’t understand Atlanta drafting Penix Jr after simply locking up Cousins.
“The Atlanta Falcons are by far the franchise most likely to simply forget that they signed a quarterback this offseason,” one fan joked.
“THE FALCONS took PENIX?!? Didn’t they just go and sign Kirk Cousins??? What’s going on??” added another.
Penix Jr. spent four seasons at Indiana before a two-year stint with Washington propelled the Huskies to the College Football Playoffs championship against Michigan.
Penix totaled 13,741 passing yards and 96 touchdowns in college while playing in 49 games.
Last season, he was one of the best QBs in the sport and guided Washington to a 14-1 record.
However, he dealt with ACL and shoulder injuries early in his college career.
He then flourished in Washington, winning the Maxwell Award as the nation’s top player and being named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, while leading the division with 4,903 passing yards.
“If you told me that in his rookie season, Michael Penix would be as good as anyone in this draft class, just in terms of pure ability and ability to throw the football, I wouldn’t be shocked by that because that he can really, really deliver the ball,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah exclusively told talkSPORT.
Fontenot’s decision is certainly bold, but it is not without precedent.
His decision to draft running back Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 pick last year was widely criticized.
The selection of tight end Kyle Pitts with the No. 4 pick in 2021 also sparked controversy.
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