Falcons linked with shocking NFL Draft move for QB

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter snuck somewhat of a bombshell into a Monday update regarding what the Atlanta Falcons could do with the eighth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

Schefter reported that "there now is speculation" that Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. "could go as high as No. 8 to the Falcons" during the first round of the draft this coming Thursday night. 

According to Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler indicated during a Sunday "SportsCenter" appearance that Atlanta taking Penix via the eighth pick could be "too rich" for a franchise expected to compete for at least a playoff berth during the upcoming season. 

The Falcons made arguably the biggest splash of free agency when they signed former Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180M contract that included $100M guaranteed. While Cousins turns 36 years old this summer and is coming off a torn right Achilles he suffered on Oct. 29, it's thought he should be good to go for Week 1 in September. 

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Falcons as the betting favorites at -130 odds to claim the NFC South division title for the 2024 season. Such predictions could lead one to assume Atlanta would want to spend the eighth pick of the draft on a player who will be a Day 1 starter rather than on a project for the future such as Penix. 

Penix's draft stock has become one of the true NFL-related mysteries of the spring due to his concerning injury history. Including Schefter's claim, Penix has been linked with Atlanta at pick No. 8, the Vikings at No. 11, the Denver Broncos at No. 12, the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13 and the Seattle Seahawks at No. 16.

In mock drafts updated on Monday, multiple CBS Sports personalities forecasted that Penix won't hear his name called by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the draft's first round this Thursday night. 

On Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had Atlanta as a +2200 underdog to draft Penix at any point. To compare, the Raiders topped the list at +260.

In a piece published on Monday, NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah ranked Penix sixth among the quarterback prospects in this year's draft class. 

USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels, North Carolina's Drake Maye and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy will likely all be drafted before Penix, and those quarterbacks could become the first four overall choices of the player-selection process.