Senior NFL Insider for ESPN Jeremy Fowler put out an article yesterday talking about what insight he gained after spending the past week-plus since the conclusion of the NFL Draft talking to executives, scouts and coaches throughout the NFL, gaining clarity on the fits for some of the key members of the 257-man draft class of 2024 including Michael Penix Jr.’s fit on the Atlanta Falcons. Earlier today on The Morning shift Tiffany Mike and Beau reacted to the insight Fowler gave on the Falcons decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick.
Fowler talked about how Falcons Owner Arthur Blank loomed large in the Falcons decision to draft Michael Penix because Kirk Cousins isn’t necessarily seen as a long term solution.
“I'm told he fully endorsed long-term stability at the position, which Kirk Cousins, at age 35, cannot satisfy to the same degree. Blank had two quarterbacks -- Michael Vick and Matt Ryan -- controlling his offense for the better part of two decades. Blank is not used to the QB carousel.” Fowler said.
Fowler also goes on to talk about how the timing of the Falcons hiring Raheem Morris as Head Coach played a role in the decision to sign Kirk Cousins as well.
“I do think the coaching calendar played a factor in Atlanta's decision to sign Cousins even while continuing to scout quarterbacks in the draft. By the time Raheem Morris was hired and fleshed out his staff, the Falcons were pressed against free agency. Cousins was viewed as a sure thing. But the final four to six weeks before the draft is when coaches put their stamp on draft scouting, which helps explain why Morris and his staff would also zero in on Penix.” Fowler said
Basically, it seems like it could be a situation where Arthur Blank was fine with Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot drafting a quarterback but also wanted to make sure the Falcons got a quarterback that was a sure thing because of the quarterback turmoil the team had faced for the past two seasons, so that poses the question is Arthur Blank stepping on the toes of Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot. The Morning Shift gave their thoughts on that as well.
“We were told that everyone was on board as far as the GM and the coach and everything is theirs. I’ve heard Rich McKay get blamed for years about every decision that happened in the football office wrongfully, oh now he’s out of the way now people are telling me well no now Arthur Blank’s doing it that’s what I read in this article.” Beau Morgan said.
Mike Johnson disagrees with that sentiment and explains why he believes the only role Arthur Blank had in this whole situation was to give assurance.
“I think that Arthur Blank had to reassure him [Terry Fontenot] that I am not going to fire you anytime in the next two, three years if this is what you want to do, go for it. I think he needed that assurance before he pulled this trigger.” Johnson said.
Are there too many voices wanting to make decisions for the Falcons, we’ll probably never truly know, but at the end of the day if things don’t work out with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. it will be a bad look for Arthur Blank, Terry Fontenot, Raheem Morris and the entire Falcons franchise.
