News flash: The Atlanta Falcons selection of Michael Penix Jr. was not popular. After signing Kirk Cousins to a massive deal, no one expected the team to consider a quarterback in the draft's first round.
However, Terry Fontenot didn't care what people were expecting and did what he felt was right. It has come with plenty of ridicule but the Falcons have handled it fairly well.
What is getting overshadowed are the reasons Penix could prove to be the correct pick. While he might not be starting day one, he will still bring value to this team and could quickly prove why he was worthy of a top-ten pick. Let's look at a few reasons why.
1. Michael Penix Jr. brings insurance for Kirk Cousins
When it comes to injuries in the National Football League, nothing is certain. We often take for granted the work and good fortune it takes to return from injury, much less return to full health.
The Falcons were ridiculed for paying an older quarterback coming off an Achilles injury so much money. You can certainly understand why but you aren't going to win in this league by making conservative decisions.
This is a pivotal year for this franchise. If Cousins doesn't return to full health or sustains another injury, the year would finished if they hadn't selected Penix. The rookie quarterback gives them a high-upside player who can win games.
Last year we saw countless starting quarterbacks go down with injury and those who didn't have a backup quarterback were burned.
2. Falcons got the guy they wanted for their future and don't have to worry for a long time
One mistake a lot of teams make is waiting too long to bring a successor in. We saw that with Matt Ryan and look how things played out. Falcons didn't plan for the post-Ryan era and when he walked out the door they panicked and forced things.
Instead of preparing years in advance, they were forced to sign Marcus Mariota as their starter and had to find a future franchise quarterback in a draft class headlined by Kenny Pickett.
Terry Fontenot and his coaches snagged the guy they wanted years in advance. Now they can move forward without having to worry about the most important position. This allows them to be more aggressive in building this roster over the coming years.
3. Michael Penix Jr. already has one of the best arms in the NFL
The final reason is the most simple; Michael Penix Jr. has tremendous arm talent that is already among the best in the NFL. Watch his college tape and you will be blown away by some of the throws he can make on the football field.
I am not the only one who thinks this either. Following the pick, NFL insider Ian Rapoport chimed in with the following:
"I had an offensive coordinator tell me that Penix will be a top-five arm in the NFL"
The NFL is built around the quarterback position. Teams with bad quarterbacks do not win postseason games, much less win the Super Bowl. Penix gives the Falcons a future star at the position and gives them a Super Bowl window that extends beyond Kirk Cousins.