Falcons surprise, select QB Michael Penix Jr. with No. 8 pick
The Atlanta Falcons selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday.
The Falcons made the pick despite signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency.
Penix went through the draft process as one of the players with the most medical questions. In his four seasons at Indiana, before his transfer to Washington, Penix tore his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) twice and suffered injuries to each shoulder, including his left (throwing) shoulder.
He missed 25 of his possible 51 games at Indiana and did not play more than six games in any of his four seasons with the Hoosiers. However, he played the last two seasons at Washington with 4,641 yards and 4,903 yards passing, respectively, to go with 67 passing touchdowns combined.
At the Senior Bowl, Penix told ESPN his knee had been evaluated by noted orthopedist Neal S. ElAttrache from the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, and the knee had received a "thumbs up'' from ElAttrache. Penix did not miss a practice, offseason workout or game in his two seasons at Washington.
At his pro day, Penix posted a sub-4.6-second time in the 40-yard dash.
This past season, Penix led the Huskies to a 14-1 season -- the loss was to Michigan in the College Football Playoff championship.
Penix's 67 touchdown passes over the past two seasons were the fourth most in the country. He threw 36 TDs last year while leading Washington to the national championship game, which they lost to Michigan.
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