Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images The team clearly wanted to land one of the draft’s top defenders, but missed their chance. The Michael Penix selection yesterday came with significant risks, which I think are well understood at this point. One of those risks was that selecting Penix would make it more difficult for the Falcons to land high-end defensive talent, and that is talent they sorely need. The Falcons clearly tried to have it both ways. Per NFL insider Steve Wyche, who still has ties to the organization from his Atlanta Journal-Constitution days, the Falcons tried to trade back int ..read more

Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK The 2024 NFL Draft is here! Join hosts Kevin Knight, Adnan Ikic, and a star-studded crew of guests as we take you through the second and third rounds with analysis of every pick from a Falcons-focused perspective. Tune in for details on our $50 NFL Shop card giveaway! At long last, the 2024 NFL Draft has finally arrived. We’ll have you covered for all the breaking news and picks here on The Falcoholic, but we’ll also once again be providing live coverage of the event on Falcoholic Live. That’s right, our Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft Party is back and better than eve ..read more

Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images This is the burning question of all burning questions after a first round selection that left fans reeling. It was the stunner of the first round, a pick destined to define the Atlanta Falcons in the coming years, and a big flag to plant for Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris. The Michael Penix pick at No. 8 wasn’t just an audacious, potentially reckless use of premium draft capital designed to get the Falcons their future quarterback. It was a curveball thrown by a team that’s supposed to be contending in the here and now, one we all expec ..read more

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images How are you feeling, sport? Michael Penix was the first round pick for the Falcons, and as you’d expect from such a selection, it was not exactly well-received in the hours to come. Taking Penix might have been controversial if the Falcons hadn’t signed Kirk Cousins to a huge deal to be their short-term, high-end quarterback as the franchise seeks to return to the playoffs. Because they did sign Cousins, it was much more controversial pick, especially because if all goes well with Cousins we won’t see much of Penix until 2026 at the earliest. Given that, I w ..read more

Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images The Falcons shocked the NFL by drafting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Host Kevin Knight is here to break down the first round, including thoughts on the pick, the timeline for Penix to start, and the potential conflict this could create with Kirk Cousins. Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of the Dirty Birds and Brews podcast! The Atlanta Falcons shocked the NFL by drafting Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Host Kev ..read more

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Atlanta spent a lot of money to land Cousins, and angering him in the short-term seems risky. The Atlanta Falcons paid up in a major way to land Kirk Cousins, the consensus best quarterback available in free agency. It was a move designed to help them win in the here and now, with Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson getting their veteran equivalent to Matthew Stafford or Matt Ryan for a roster they clearly felt was ready to contend. There were long-term questions at the position, sure, but that didn’t necessarily demand an instant fix. The Fa ..read more

Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images We want your thoughts on the Falcons shocking selection of QB Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick. Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Atlanta Falcons fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. The Falcons made the shocking decision to draft Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at 8, and we want to know your thoughts! Weigh in by answering the questions in our SB Nation Reacts survey below. Please ta ..read more

Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images The Falcons got their long-term option, but that’s unlikely to move you. The Atlanta Falcons pulled off the stunner of the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft, picking quarterback Michael Penix with the No. 8 pick. That would not have raised eyebrows if the Falcons have made that pick without signing Kirk Cousins at the position, but they did indeed sink a significant contract into a veteran option at quarterback and would not appear to have a short-term need. This is an insurance selection for Cousins and a bet on the future, and it’s not something that’s goin ..read more

Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images Keeping track of the Falcons 2024 draft class. Excitement is in the air as the Atlanta Falcons and 31 other NFL teams gear up for the much-anticipated 2024 NFL Draft. This annual event presents a golden opportunity for teams to infuse their rosters with young talent capable of reshaping the trajectory of their franchises. For the third consecutive draft, the Falcons hold the 8th overall selection, but there’s a possibility that they trade out of that spot. Will it happen though? Stay tuned as we provide live updates on every Falcons pick in the 2024 ..read more

Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images It’s time. The Atlanta Falcons will be on the clock soon enough, because the 2024 NFL Draft is kicking off in about an hour. When it does, we’ll react live on YouTube, post stories here, and generally begin a months-long process of talking about and thinking about the selection. It’s a time of anticipation and also relief, because we can finally end our ceaseless speculation and replace it with reality. Naturally, this will be your open thread for all things Falcons and NFL Draft this evening, so use it to debate the picks as they come in and talk about Atlanta ..read more