Michael Penix Jr. Being Drafted by Falcons Stuns NFL Fans After Kirk Cousins Contract

The Atlanta Falcons were the first team to make a surprising selection in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft Thursday night.

The Falcons used the No. 8 pick to draft Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., one month after signing veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract.

Cousins is coming off Achilles surgery, but he's expected to be the Falcons' starter this fall.

Penix was the Heisman runner-up in 2023 but suffered multiple season-ending injuries at Indiana early in his college career.

The selection stunned Falcons fans, many of whom were expecting Atlanta to use the top-10 pick in order to add help for Cousins.

Some speculated Penix, who was originally projected as a late first-round or early second-round selection, was equally surprised by the Falcons' decision.

The Falcons will now need to focus on finding help for their new quarterback duo later on in the draft, and could potentially consider a trade up to do so. Barring a deal, Atlanta won't come up on the board again until pick No. 43 in Round 2.