The Atlanta Falcons provided the first major surprise of the NFL draft by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington with the No. 8 overall pick on Thursday night. The Falcons extended their recent trend of selecting offensive skill players in the first round by drafting Penix one month after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed. Using a draft slot normally targeted for players expected to make an immediate impact, the Falcons chose Penix as the apparent long-term successor to the 35-year-old Cousins.
W | L | T | Pct | |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | |
9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | |
7 | 10 | 0 | .412 | |
2 | 15 | 0 | .118 |