The Atlanta Falcons shocked the NFL world by selecting former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick. The Falcons signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year contract worth $180 million in free agency at the age of 35. And with a torn Achilles tendon, you have to wonder how many years he has left. Now, Atlanta finally has a replacement for Cousins.
Penix was one of the most enigmatic quarterbacks in this class, not least because of the wide range of things he was expected to come off the board with. Some considered him a top-10 prospect, while others questioned whether he would be taken out of the first round at all. Part of that was due to two torn ACLs that Penix suffered during his time at Indiana University. But what is indisputable is his arm talent. Penix is said to have the best deep ball of any quarterback in his class, and that was on full display in Washington.
Penix transferred from Indiana and took the college football world by storm with the Huskies. He led the FBS in passing yards in 2022 and helped win the Maxwell Award. He then led Washington to a 13-0 regular season in 2023, leading the NCAA in passing yards and finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting. The first-team All-American helped lead Washington to the College Football Playoff national championship game, but lost to Michigan. In his final college season, Penix threw for 4,903 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Here's what the Falcons have on Penix, including his scouting report, comparisons to the pros, career honors, fantasy fit and overall NFL outlook.
“They chose to acquire the quarterback of the future by acquiring Penix. He has all the tools but will learn and wait behind Kirk Cousins. I doubt if he can rush it.I like the player, but I don't like the pick.'' — Pete Prisco
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Future analysis
dynasty spin
Future analysis
Michael Penix Jr. NFL Draft Candidate Profile
- Age at week 1: 24-years-old
- height: 6 feet 3
- weight: 218
- Hand size: 10 1/2 inch
Similar body types: jimmy garoppolo
CBS Sports Prospective Player Rankings
position: No. 5 QB | whole:30th | evaluation: 88.43 (High level starter)
NFL Comparison: Jordan Love
Penix has many traits that can be compared to many players, but other than injury concerns, I felt he was the closest to Jordan Love. Both have arm strength, are not afraid of pass rush pressure, both venture downfield, fully trust receivers in tight coverage, and have good mobility without relying too much on the rush. I have. Love needed time to learn how to read his reads and handle defensive coverages. Penix may be further along than Love was when he was a draft prospect. Hopefully, both can eventually overcome their high throw percentages (Love has made progress in that area this season).
scouting report
NFL decision makers have varying opinions on Michael Penix Jr.'s abilities. Some like him in Round 1, while others see him as a Day 3 target. There's no denying he's the best deep ball thrower in this draft class, and he comes into the league with a wealth of experience.
honor
- 2023: Heisman Trophy runner-up (highest finish in Washington history)
- 2022-23: Most passing yards in two years in Pac-12 history (9,544)
Strengths
- Best deep ball thrower in its class
- Throw with anticipation on intermediate routes
- Very good at putting the ball in place to maximize YAC
Weakness
- Injury history will be a concern for many NFL teams
- Can he consistently and accurately throw the ball to the middle of the field on intermediate routes?
Breakdown of university statistics
| 2023 | 15 | 65.4% | 4903 | 8.8 | 36 | 11 | 36 | 8 | 0.2 | 3 |
| 2023 vs. Top 25 Teams | 7 | 61.9% | 2056 | 7.8 | 14 | Five | twenty two | twenty one | 1.0 | 3 |
| Career at University of California | 28 | 65.4% | 9544 | 8.6 | 67 | 19 | 71 | 100 | 1.4 | 7 |
On CBS Sports Fantasy. Michael Penix Jr. as a draft prospect.
