One of the biggest surprises in the 2024 NFL Draft was the Atlanta Falcons’ pick of Michael Penix Jr. Few people are aware of the influence quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs had on the Falcons’ choice to draft the University of Washington player with their first-round pick.
A few weeks prior to the draft, in mid-March, the Falcons signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal extension. Most anticipated that they would select a defensive player, such as a linebacker or cornerback, since they had a quality quarterback signed to a medium-term contract.
But the front office of the Falcons shocked everyone by selecting Penix with their eighth overall first-round pick. Everything makes sense, starting with Mahomes’ pick in the 2017 Draft, according to NFL insider Albert Breer.
"Terry Fontenot was with the Saints in 2017 when they wanted Patrick Mahomes..
They thought they missed on him because word got out that they wanted him..
They weren't telling anybody that they were interested in Michael Penix" ~ @AlbertBreer #PMSLive https://t.co/Sjqc26RjuA pic.twitter.com/FFeVhz1RJg
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 7, 2024
Patrick Mahomes and Terry Fontenot
Breer mentioned Fontenot’s affiliation with the New Orleans Saints in 2017, the year the Chiefs selected Mahomes with the tenth overall choice in the NFL. This information was mentioned in an interview with Pat McAfee. Breer said,
“I’m sure you know, Pat, Sean Payton was very, very high, as were all the Saints people, on Patrick Mahomes,”
“they (the Saints’ front office) felt like the reason why they lost Patrick Mahomes that year is because word of their interest got out.” “if we like one of these quarterbacks, we can’t tell anybody, we got to sit there at eight, we got to pretend that we’re taking Dallas Turner or Byron Murphy or Malik Nabers or someone else.”
𝗗𝗲𝗷𝗮 𝗩𝘂?
The Falcons reaching for Michael Penix after they paid Kirk Cousins reminds me a little of the Chiefs drafted Mahomes 11th in 2017. He was seen at as a project at the time. Look at him now. Do the falcons know something the rest of us don't?#NFL #MichaelPenixJr pic.twitter.com/18Qxtgg2aR
— Empire Sports Talk Podcast (@EmpireSportsPod) May 1, 2024
