Joel Klatt: Michael Penix Jr. is ‘not a case of an overdrafted player’

FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt was as shocked as anyone to see former Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. selected No. 8 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Atlanta, fresh off giving veteran signal caller Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal this offseason, had other pressing needs such as outside linebacker but decided to grab a quarterback for the future. Klatt, breaking down the biggest happenings of draft weekend, emphasized that while he does believe Penix was worthy of his draft slot, the Falcons being the team to pull the trigger on him is a “case of an organization with zero plan.”

Joel Klatt breaks down Falcons’ selection of Michael Penix Jr.

“Michael Penix deserves to be selected where he got selected,” Klatt said. “This is not a case of an overdrafted player. This is a case of an organization with zero plan. My problem is he went to Atlanta. Atlanta is 7-10, they I don’t think have a stacked roster as least as much as they think they have a stacked roster. They missed the playoffs last season and the five prior to that so six straight years without a playoff berth. They need players now which is why they went chips in the table for Kirk Cousins.

“Remember, this a year after they decided to say, ‘You know what, we’re good, we don’t need to be in the Lamar Jackson sweepstakes.’ And then the next year they say, ‘No, we definitely need a quarterback, we should go get that 36-year-old with a torn Achilles and they gave Kirk Cousins $100 million guaranteed in free agency. … Then they decide man, we really like Michael Penix. Like some bozo that gets engaged and goes to spring break and falls in love with the first girl he sees in a bikini on the beach. Like what are you doing?”

Michael Penix Jr. to sit behind Kirk Cousins in Atlanta

Klatt was high on Penix coming into the draft, and for good reason. Penix, who turns 24 next month, is coming off an outstanding season with the Huskies, in which he finished second in Heisman Trophy voting. He threw for 4,903 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 65.4% passing. Penix led Washington to an undefeated regular season and Pac-12 championship, and helped the Huskies defeat Texas, 37-31, in the College Football Playoff Semifinal.

Washington failed to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, falling to Michigan, 34-13. He sustained season-ending injuries in each of his four seasons at Indiana before transferring to Washington in 2022, including torn ACLs in 2018 and 2020.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said the team had the future in mind when making the decision to draft Penix, emphasizing that Cousins is their quarterback for the short-term.

“Kirk Cousins is our quarterback,” Fontenot said. “We’re very excited about Kirk. We’re very excited about this team. Michael Penix is… we’re talking about the future. You look at the future. You look at the big picture. We are very excited about that quarterback room, and again, Kirk is our quarterback. But adding Michael Penix is thinking about the future.”