The Atlanta Falcons have fallen in most post-draft NFL rankings, mainly due to their acquisition of Michael Penix, Jr. eighth overall. This is understandable, it's unchartered territory. Those outside the Falcons building don't fully understand the extent of the quarterback woes that Falcons fans have endured. If you didn't watch all 34 instances of the Marcus Mariota-Desmond Ridder handoff over the past couple of years, there aren't many ways to rationalize the move.
However, when I saw The Athletic's Josh Kendall drop the Falcons in his most recent power rankings, alarm bells went off. Kendall dropped the Falcons from 17 to 22 as the Falcons became "the talk of the draft, but not for the right reasons."
Post-free agency rank: 17
Brugler’s draft ranking: 32
The talk of the draft, but not for the right reasons, the Falcons passed on their best chance to make the 2024 team better by drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick. It might turn out to be a genius move for the future, but it won’t help this year with Penix sitting behind Kirk Cousins. The five front-seven defenders they drafted after Penix might help, though.
There is a chance that this could just be reactionary. Once the shock and awe from the pick go away, everybody will realize that Atlanta has a clear path to the playoffs, especially with their strength of schedule. But if there is anyone who could understand the move, it would be a Falcons beat writer who watched this debacle first-hand for two years.
This situation is one that everyone in the NFL world will have to get used to and from the first pan-over to Penix with a hat and clipboard to the first time he is called upon to be a starter, this move will continue to be scrutinized relentlessly.
Lock in Falcons fans, it's going to be a long ride.
