Jay Gruden Chimes In on Falcons' Puzzling Michael Penix Jr. Draft Pick

Former NFL head coach Jay Gruden shares his thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons' surprising selection of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick, despite signing veteran Kirk Cousins.

Atlanta Falcons' Draft Drama: Jay Gruden Weighs In

Former Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden shared his perspective on the Atlanta Falcons' puzzling decision to draft quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick in the NFL Draft, despite recently signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Gruden has firsthand experience navigating a similar situation, having coached Washington when they selected Robert Griffin III No. 2 overall in 2012 and later drafted Kirk Cousins in the fourth round.

Gruden expressed his surprise at the Falcons' move, given their pressing needs on defense. However, he acknowledged the importance of finding the quarterback of the future.

"I think this way, what the Falcons did this year, is a little bit odd to me, especially with all the needs they had on defense," Gruden said. "They had the pick of the litter on defense as far as pass rush is concerned."

"But it just shows the desperation teams have for finding the quarterback of the future. You gotta find him. You gotta continue to hunt for them. If you feel like you got one there and you can get him in your building, you gotta take a chance. And that’s what Atlanta did."

Cousins, 34, is entering the twilight of his career, while Penix, 23, has shown promise as a potential franchise quarterback. The young signal-caller led Washington to the national title game in 2022 and showcased his impressive passing ability in the past two seasons.

Penix's former Washington teammate, Rome Odunze, praised his talent and leadership. "I think everything on the field, that’s my QB1 in this draft," said Odunze. "I think he’s a tremendous talent. From what he’s been able to do on the field, I don’t think that there’s anything that he really lacks."

Despite the potential upside, some analysts question the Falcons' decision to spend such a high draft pick on Penix when they already have Cousins on the roster. However, Gruden believes that the move could be a smart investment in the future.

"You gotta find him," Gruden emphasized. "You gotta continue to hunt for them. If you feel like you got one there and you can get him in your building, you gotta take a chance. And that’s what Atlanta did."