The one word to describe the Atlanta Falcons over the last several years? Dysfunctional.
From chasing Matt Ryan out of town in a futile pursuit of Deshaun Watson, to parading Desmond Ridder as a legitimate starter, firing multiple head coaches, and then capping it off with the head-scratching decision to sign Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal before drafting Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall—Atlanta has been a case study in organizational chaos.
The Falcons have been the media’s punching bag, and deservedly so. There’s no way to justify many of the decisions this organization has made since they last made the postseason in 2017. But here’s the twist: Is it possible that all those missteps inadvertently led them to something special?
That’s certainly what Falcons fans are hoping for with Michael Penix Jr. taking over the reins as the team’s starting quarterback, who really couldn’t have walked into a much better situation.
In large part due to the Falcons’ consistent struggles, the offense surrounding Penix is loaded in every aspect. The offensive line has featured the same five faces for two straight seasons, establishing itself as one of the best in the league. Bijan Robinson might soon take the mantle as the top running back in the league, and the receiving core doesn’t lack much, featuring two top-ten selections and one of the better free agent signings in recent history in Darnell Mooney.
There aren’t too many top draft picks walking into that type of situation, but Penix also got to sit behind Kirk Cousins for nearly a full season. That time on the bench, learning from a veteran like Cousins, is invaluable. It allowed Penix to acclimate to the NFL without the immediate pressure of starting and gave rookie offensive coordinator Zac Robinson time to find his rhythm in calling plays.
The irony here is unmistakable: the Falcons’ persistent dysfunction over the past six years may have inadvertently set the stage for Penix’s success. Of course, all of this is dependent on the 8th overall pick in this year’s draft actually being the guy, but if he is, Atlanta might have just stumbled into a situation that may make them a relevant organization again for the next decade-plus.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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