'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Michael Penix Jr. initially shocked fans in the 2024 Draft by being selected eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons, who already had Kirk Cousins on a monstrous four-year, $180 million contract.
More than four months have passed, and the initial surprise has mostly dissipated. During the first half of the preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, he went 9/16 for 104 yards with neither a touchdown nor an interception, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.
One of his highlights was this deep throw to Chris Blair in the first quarter:
And even though the Falcons eventually entered the break down 10-17, fans were still impressed:
"PENIX HAS CRAZY ARM TALENT," one fan added.
"Kirko better watch out" one fan said.
More of the praise can be seen below:
"He’s him," one said.
"Penix should be starting," another begged.
"Penix finna be the best qb in this class," another predicted.
Michael Penix Jr. expected to star in preseason as Kirk Cousins awaits Falcons
Yahoo's Charles Robinson, meanwhile, has warned fans to watch as much Michael Penix Jr. in the preseason as possible, because that may be the only time he is seen on the field in 2024.
But for Raheem Morris, it is an opportunity for the rookie to showcase the potential that made him the eighth overall pick. He said on Wednesday:
“We haven’t really talked about playing time, but you’ll get a good look at Michael. You won’t see nearly as much of Kirk, if any.”
Penix, however, relishes the opportunity to learn under a veteran like Cousins. He said:
"We're good, man. Me and Kirk (are) cool. We both want the same goal, and that's to see this team win football games. He's the starter right now and I'm the No. 2. I'm just continuing to learn, continuing to grow each and every day."
Owner Arthur Blank, meanwhile, expects nothing less than a smooth transition between quarterbacks:
"We hope and pray [Cousins] has got three to four great years in front of him. Maybe beyond that, who knows? But we also know that there will be a point that we'll need a transition. We want to make sure we do that smoothly."
The Falcons have since opened the second half with a 53-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo.
