Falcons look at Aaron Rodgers-Jordan Love success as blueprint for Michael Penix Jr. draft pick

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons seemed to a northern NFC counterpart for inspiration within the 2024 NFL Draft, finally following what was dubbed by head coach Raheem Morris as “the Inexperienced Bay mannequin” from 2020.

Regardless of signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal value as much as $180 million again in March, the Falcons used their No. 8 general decide to pick out quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Make no mistake, Cousins stays the Falcons’ QB1. Each normal supervisor Terry Fontenot and Morris made that reality very clear late Thursday evening (early Friday morning?) when recapping the primary spherical.

“Kirk Cousins is our quarterback,” Fontenot stated. “We’re very enthusiastic about Kirk, very enthusiastic about this staff. (With) Michael Penix we’re speaking in regards to the future. The draft is you take a look at the longer term and also you take a look at huge image.”

The explanation Fontenot and Morris referenced “the Inexperienced Bay mannequin” is as a result of the Packers did one thing comparable in 2020 once they drafted Jordan Love within the first spherical (twenty sixth general), regardless that they’d Aaron Rodgers rostered with a profitable QB1 file that dated again to 2008.

In contrast to the Falcons with Cousins, who was contacted whereas on the clock, Packers normal supervisor Brian Gutekunst did not inform Rodgers the decide earlier than it was introduced. Nonetheless, Gutekunst publicly stated Love was “a long-term resolution,” which has similarities to the Falcons’ view of Penix.

That 2020 situation ended up understanding for the Packers. Rodgers left as a free agent for the New York Jets in 2023, and Love stepped proper into the beginning function. Inexperienced Bay then made the playoffs, profitable a wild-card recreation however dropping within the divisional spherical.

“The Inexperienced Bay mannequin was one thing that we talked about,” Morris stated. “It has been confirmed to be proper, final 12 months. Hopefully, we’ll be proper with them.”

Love was Rodgers’ backup for 3 seasons. Love did not take a snap till his sophomore season, showing in six video games and beginning only one. He appeared in 4 in 2022. After which final 12 months, he began all 17 video games and accomplished 64.2% of his passes for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns.

The thought is Penix can correctly develop beneath Cousins so when his alternative comes – whether or not in Atlanta or elsewhere – he, too, is prepared for a full schedule of labor.

“You are speaking a couple of man that is had lots of success within the Nationwide Soccer League (in Cousins), and also you’re speaking a couple of younger man coming into the league (in Penix),” Morris stated. “(Penix) goes to be hungry. He will be wanting to study and simply have a sure need that it takes to take a seat again and study. I watched Kirk do it. Now it is Michael’s time to do it.

“You may’t put that on Kirk. Kirk’s job is simply to be an expert. Kirk will present him the best way by how he goes about his each day enterprise each single day, and Michael will get an opportunity to see that firsthand. I feel that is actually a very good factor for a younger participant.”

Their timelines align, too.

As already talked about, Cousins is beneath contract for 4 years. Penix, as a first-rounder, will even be on the hook for 4 years, with a fifth-year possibility. Which means, when these deadlines do come up, a selection will have to be made by the Falcons brass.

However the Falcons aren’t worrying about that but.

“Once more, Kirk is our quarterback,” Fontenot stated. “However including Michael Penix is considering the longer term.”