NFL Insider Links Michael Penix Jr. to Falcons: Is No. 8 'Too Rich for' QB in Draft?

The Atlanta Falcons added Kirk Cousins this offseason, but he will also turn 36 years old before the 2024 campaign and is coming off a ruptured Achilles.

That means the Falcons could look for some quarterback insurance during Thursday's NFL draft, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler appeared on Sunday's SportsCenter and discussed the possibility of the NFC South team selecting Washington's Michael Penix Jr.:

"Well, the Falcons are certainly a candidate to get a passer at some point in the draft. GM Terry Fontenot in his first three drafts did not take one in the first two rounds. They spent some time with Michael Penix Jr. This is interesting. When they went to visit him in Seattle for a private workout in early April, the whole contingent went, the head coach Raheem Morris, Fontenot, they flew all the way to Seattle just to watch him throw for a few hours and turned around and went home. They didn't do dinner or stay the night or anything. That told me something as far as interest. Now, No. 8 overall, is that too rich for Penix? Maybe, but he's probably not there when they pick 43rd overall in the second round. So, these are the thoughts that go on and so do they pick a passer somewhere? Maybe. Do they take a pass rusher? That's probably the safer pick at No. 8 overall."

If the Falcons fall in love with Penix they may take him at No. 8 overall just so they don't have to worry about him going somewhere else.

Still, that would be a surprising pick given the addition of Cousins and the very realistic possibility they make a jump as a playoff team in 2024. Atlanta was 7-10 last season with lackluster quarterback play from Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke and has the weapons to make a significant leap if Cousins lives up to expectations.

All the veteran has to do is consistently get the ball into the hands of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Darnell Mooney to make this a better team.

While Penix could be a starter down the line, using the No. 8 pick on him would prevent Atlanta from adding someone who could start on a potential playoff team in a win-now window. B/R's NFL Scouting Department projected the club to select Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell at No. 8 in its latest mock draft.

The Falcons were just 18th in the league in points allowed per game last season, so someone like Mitchell would likely step into the lineup right away and elevate their ceiling.

Penix is an excellent player and would provide the insurance Atlanta could use under center, but, as Fowler suggested, the No. 8 pick might be too early for him from a team that already has its quarterback.