A surprise draft selection.
When Michael Penix Jr. got drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, it shocked the entire NFL.
One year on, and the former University of Washington quarterback is set to begin the campaign as the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback (QB).
With other QBs in his draft class such as Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye already becoming household names, Penix will hope to begin his legacy properly this year.
The start of college life
The start to college life was tough for Penix Jr.
His college career was launched at Indiana University Bloomington, and he turned out as a true freshman for the Indiana Hoosiers football team.
Disaster soon struck when Penix Jr. was ruled out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and ultimately redshirted, preserving his college eligibility. He played just three games in total that year.
Penix Jr. made his comeback to Indiana and was a starter in the shortened Covid-19 season in 2020. Unfortunately, in November he was ruled out again with another ACL injury.
From a boy to a man
In December 2021 he made the move to the University of Washington, where his career would really take off.
During the Alamo Bowl, he became the Washington Huskies’ all-time single-season passing leader with 4,641 passing yards.
Consequently, he claimed the AP Comeback Player of the Year award and guided the 2023 Huskies to an unbeaten 13-0 regular season in his senior year.
Penix is a Falcon.
In the 2024 NFL draft, Penix was picked 8th overall by the Falcons, and was the fourth QB selected. The three selected ahead of him were the top three picks overall.
This shocked many NFL fans, as earlier that offseason the Falcons had signed veteran QB Kirk Cousins to a huge $180 million deal.
However, after a turbulent spell, Cousins would be sidelined, and Penix Jr. would take the starting spot in Week 16.
Penix had some solid performances and would remain the first choice for the final three games of the campaign.
The Future
With the 2025 campaign now fewer than nine weeks away, the pressure is cranking up. The Falcons have to start fast, and a lot of that rides on their inexperienced QB1.
With talented weapons like Bijan Robinson and Drake London at his disposal, Penix will be expected to deliver the goods.
