Michael Penix Jr.’s name was gaining a lot of steam heating into the 2024 NFL Draft, but no one predicted that he would go to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 overall.
Penix was coveted by teams like the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, but the Falcons decided they wanted to get in on the quarterback action and take the former Washington star.
It was a puzzling move, to say the least, because Atlanta already has Kirk Cousins under contract for the next four years after he signed a massive $180 million deal in free agency.
Cousins may be recovering from an Achilles injury, but all signs indicate that he’ll be ready by the start of the 2024 NFL season.
The veteran signal-caller, like everyone else around the NFL, was thrown off by the pick and could be facing a shorter time in Atlanta than previously thought.
Chad Johnson believes that Penix could see snaps as soon as his rookie year and warned that the quarterback “better know how to swim,” via Nightcap.
Michael Penix Jr. better be ready to swim @ShannonSharpe @ochocinco pic.twitter.com/PvdYPoHrdL
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) April 28, 2024
Johnson argues that Cousins will indeed have to watch over his shoulder if he plays poorly despite comments from head coach Raheem Morris that say otherwise.
With his age and experience, Penix could feasibly start right away for a team like the Falcons though the most likely reality is he sits for at least a year learning behind Cousins.
The quarterback room in Atlanta is now an interesting subplot track once the 2024 season kicks off.
The post Chad Johnson Says 1 Rookie QB ‘Better Know How To Swim’ appeared first on The Cold Wire.