The Atlanta Falcons stunned everyone watching the 2024 NFL Draft when they took Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick despite giving Kirk Cousins four years and $180 million in free agency.
It’s one of those picks that everyone is going to have a strong opinion about, and former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf recently shared his take.
Leaf appeared on Up & Adams today and told Kay Adams that “this was playing chess when others were playing checkers” in regards to the pick, adding “I just thought this was doing what was best for a team to have a decade-long quarterback campaign with a couple of guys who can dominate that division.”
.@ryandleaf applauds the #Falcons for taking Michael Penix Jr. with the no. 8 pick
“This was playing chess when others were playing checkers.” @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/ItefB0Xqs2
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 21, 2024
Leaf said he expects the Falcons to compete in the NFC for the next couple of years and that even though Penix is the most pro-ready QB in the draft, he’ll still benefit from the chance to sit and learn behind Cousins for a while.
Cousins hasn’t appeared to be thrilled with the pick, but he is not the type of guy to come out and publicly speak out against it.
For a team that was so obviously in need of help on defense, it was truly one of the most shocking picks in recent memory, but if Penix turns out to be as good as advertised and can learn a thing or two sitting behind Cousins for at least a year or two, no one will be mad about this selection in a few years.
People hated the Jordan Love pick a few years ago, and nobody is complaining about that one now.
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