FLOWERY BRANCH — With the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft Thursday, the Falcons selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
“To be able to in this position, I’m blessed,” Penix said on a virtual call from Florida. “That’s all I can say, I’m blessed. I had no idea. I know that everything happens for a reason. I’m excited to be apart of the organization.”
At Indiana, he sustained injuries and missed 21 games over four years. Over his two years at Washington he posted a 25-3 record.
He guided the Huskies to the College Football Playoff and posted a win over Texas to reach the CFP Championship game, where they were mauled by Michigan.
“I’m blessed for the opportunity,” said Penix, who’s a left-handed gunslinger. “I’m going to take advantage and make the most out of it.”
The drafting of Penix was a shock to some because the Falcons just signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year contract worth up to $180 million in free agency. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who played at Collins Hill High, is also on the roster.
Penix is looking forward to working with Cousins.
“He a guy who’s been in the league,” Penix said. “He’s been in there for a while. He’s played a lot of football. I’m going to come in and I’m going to learn.
“I’m going to learn from him. Try to soak up all of the knowledge that I can from him. Obviously, he’s been in the league for a while. There is reason behind that.”
The Falcons didn’t tell Cousins that they were drafting Penix until they were on the clock, according to his agent.
The Falcons went to Seattle to work out Penix on April 5.
“Great,” Penix said when asked about how the workout went. “I worked out with those guys. They liked the way that I threw the ball. I felt like I threw it great that day during that throwing session.”
The Falcons selected offensive players in tight end Kyle Pitts (fourth overall), wide receiver Drake London (eighth) and running back Bijan Robinson (eighth) in the three previous drafts and apparently now have their quarterback of the future after Cousins.
Penix is 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds.
The Falcons sent a sizable entourage, including general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris, to Seattle to hold the private workout with Penix.
The Falcons made a similar trip to Austin, Texas, before selecting Robinson last season.
John Nagy, the executive director of the Senior Bowl, noted that the Falcons had been doing a lot of work on Penix.
Cousins is coming off Achilles surgery and is set to turn 36 before the season starts.
Penix, turns 24 in May, would serve at least a couple of years under Cousins before taking over in a transition.
Penix finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting last season and eighth in 2022.
Penix passed for 13,741 yards, 96 touchdowns and 34 interceptions over his college career. He completed 63.6% of his passes and had a career passing rating of 146.6.
The private workout was a follow-up visit for the Falcons, who met with Penix at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Penix had 36 touchdown passes last season. Like Cousins, he’s more of a pocket passer.
Penix believes that he’s a natural leader.
“You know, I’m just a leader and I’m a guy that’s going to bring the best out of everybody around me,” Penix said. “I feel like in every aspect, I can elevate the guys around me and highlight them into becoming better people and players as well so I feel like that is a good thing for a quarterback.”
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Penix remembers his discussions with the Falcons at the combine.
“We had a really good meeting,” Penix said. “They asked me some questions, some tough questions, but just trying to get to know me and I feel like it was a very good meeting. I was definitely excited going into it.”
Penix has to address his rash of injuries at Indiana.
“That’s a big reason why I came back for this last season to have another fully healthy season and show that I’m ready to compete,” Penix said. “And (show that I) can do it at the next level. At this point, I can’t control if there is still questions about the injury history.”
Leading to the draft, Alabama outside linebacker Dallas Turner was picked in several mock draft to come to the Falcons. He went 17th to the Vikings.
Also, UCLA defensive Laiatu Latu was considered a potential pick by the Falcons and he went 15th to the Colts. Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy, who was compared to Aaron Donald and Grady Jarrett, went 16th to the Seahawks.
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