Round One Draft Press Conference | Atlanta Falcons 

Not a falcon fan but had to hear this GM talk😂

I’m not even a falcons fan but I had to see what they had to say lol 😂 wtf

It's official, Terry Fontenot was sent here by the Saints to destroy the Falcons and their fans

Like the player, hate the pick

I understand maintaining a good relationship but these Media members didn’t ask the tough questions

This the type of pick that gets people fired.

This will either be the best decision Atlanta has ever made or the worst. If Penix is a bust it will set this franchise back years.

#8 pick is when you draft blue chip talent that will start now.

Please God, make it make sense. I am a 40 fan of this franchise and this has got to be one of the most absurd draft picks in franchise history, and we've had a few.

Falcons being Falcons.. again and again

“Dad, can we get an injury prone, aging QB?” “No son, we have one at home we just gave $180 million to”

I will be a Falcons fan long after the both of you are fired. Thanks for screwing up the team. I hope Michael Penix has a long career

I understand the pick and agree with it.

Falcons must be thinking the interference punishment is going to be severe and lose draft picks next year. Get the future qb now and figure the rest out

The drama is really going to begin when Penix balls tf out in training camp and preseason 👀

Falcons went xmas shopping last minute. Bought an HD TV from Walmart that wasn't even on sale. And then found out later that day your wife already went xmas shopping for you months ago and had bought a similar gift off Craigslist but for triple.

Smart pick! A lot of people were complaining about MR and wanted him gone with no succession plan in place. When we moved on from, those same people couldn't tell anyone who you would replace him with. Now because we didn't pick an EDGE or CB , y'all still salty because the pick y'all want wasn't selected. PLEASE GET OVER YOURSELVES! There's no way you can see the future if you can't see past the nose on your face. In my humble opinion.. See y'all at Flowery Branch

“We won’t be back in this position again” put it on a damn shirt I like it!!!!!!!!!

2021 NFL draft - Matt Ryan is 36 years old and fans are mad we didn’t take Fields as a successor. 2024 NFL draft - Kirk Cousins is 35 years old, coming off an Achilles tear, and fans are mad we are taking QB as a successor. Can’t make this up.

You can tell from these guys faces, not everyone is on board like they thought everyone would be!

They could’ve drafted a franchise Offensive lineman to protect Kirk, a big time defensive player to improve the defense and take pressure off of Kirk, or they could’ve drafted a #1 WR to pair with Drake and give Kirk more options. Instead they use the #8 pick overall to draft his backup. You do that with a 4th or 5th round pick. NOT A 1ST ROUND PICK

Brilliant, address and complete the quarterback issue in a couple of months wow 🔥🏈🔥 I always say two heads are better than one,, go falcons and rise up Atlanta 🔥 plus this dude is a absolute dog 💥🦾🦾🔥🏈🔥

Let him sit and recover from the injuries from college he will be ready after Kirk

This franchise is embarrassing to root for with stupid decisions like this. There is a real reason we are being talked about all over the place about this pick around the NFL and it's because it was a stupid move when you have important needs on defense and you just signed a QB for 200 million! Idiots.... Blank needs to sell the team!

We cpudlve got Odunze wtf man!!!

Great pick hands down best quarterback in the draft.

Good pick by the Falcons! You don’t pass up on a generational talent. A steal

The true is a lot of Falcon fans use emotions over logic and only want the Cinderella plays/picks. Penix Jr made sense because the Falcons have Kirk Cousins so they have a higher chance of winning the NFC South so that means they won't be in the top of the draft next year or even the year after that to get a QB to replace Kirk Cousins so it makes sense to get that QB now instead of waiting to the last minute to do something.

This is some first class mental gymnastics

I don't think many people understand how important it is to find a qb in the long term. Atlanta was lucky to have Matty for so long. Look at other teams that have been looking for an answer at the QB position for years. I trust in the process Terry and Raheem have more clue than 99% here. The future will tell how good the pick was. 🔮 Welcome to the A Penix!🎉

This group is thinking about having a good Quarterback room and the future… finally YES. Penix was the best available quarterback and he’s the future, we might not be this high again your not going to move up in the draft if a good quarterback is there, no team is going to move off the chance to get a Quarterback. The organization made the best move.

The last 5yrs in NFL it's been Mahomes, Lamar, Burrow, Allen, Love, Tua, Richardson, Brock, CJ... plus the ones in this draft. It's a new wave at the QB position. Falcons acknowledged that by drafting Penix and also blocked the Saints from getting him. It's Kirk's job to lose, if he wins playoff games he remains QB1. Continue to not win playoff games the team has another option.

I'm a lifelong Falcons fan, since Steve Bartkowski was drafted; I was stunned by the pick of Penix at 8 by the Falcons last night. After thinking about it, I understand it, I don't like it but, I get it....I hope like hell nothing happens to Cousins but, if he goes down who would we rather have as a backup, Heinecke or Penix... I'll take Penix. I don't honestly believe Penix is going to be a bench warmer too long!! Now, go get a damn good defensive player, there's still some good ones left, just make sure he's a good one!!

Good pick guys. I like the direction y'all have this team going in!!

I’ll come back when we go 7-10 again 💀

STOP HATING!!!! DID YOU SEE THE QUARTERBACK PLAY LAST YEAR. GREAT DECISION.... CHANGE THE MINDSET! CHANGE THE CULTURE!!! LET'S GO......

Let’s say we go 13-3 next 4 yrs that means we’re picking late the next couple years it’s hard to find a franchise qb. They playing chess not checkers. Y’all fans cried when we picked Robinson last year too

This is a good pick. He doesnt have to be in the fire for a few years. They’re the only guys who are thinking smart. They can win now and develop a QB for later.

In the Words of the great Vince Lombardi, " What the Hells going on here" Vince

I like the pick because its a security blanket for Kirk Cousins injury concerns. What we need is a corner and there are still a lot out there to pick. We could also use some O-Line guys. I’m excited about the young pass rushers we got on the team already. They all showed improvement or potential. I kinda want the best center available and a tackle to either replace kaleb Mcgaredy or insurance for when or LT decides to retire. Not sexy but I think that would unlock our offense.

Brave move. Cousins is a terrific quarterback to train under. I think after the shock wears off, it will be less of an issue. Ridder, Mariota era likely influenced the decision. Perhaps the QB reminds them of Drew Brees, he’s so accurate. It will be fascinating to watch. I like their conviction and commitment because they will likely need it.

9:59 the one word "Yes" had me dying 🤣🤣🤣

🤦🏿‍♂️ Beavis and Butthead

I actually really like this pick I went to one of penix games and actually got to watch him play. he is really good in the pocket just like Moris said but he does lack consistency and I feel like working behind Kirk that will end up changing in the future and he’ll be amongst the best 💯 but then again I really wanted turner on our defense but I’ll take this pick as well I knew we were gonna get one or the other just wasn’t for sure about penix. Some of you guys will grow to like the man just wait ☑️

I love the pick. Penix is a stud at THE premier position.

Penix is 23. This actually a good decision. Watch his film. He has a winning attitude, great arm, vision, ….. he could be that guy. I love his play. I’m actually excited to be Falcons fan. I love Raheem and what he brings, great leader, knows Atlanta, and is lining us up. God bless

So much crying. Decade plus of QB stability is never something to be mad at. Address defense the rest of the draft and move forward.

Penix had the best situation possible happen for him. He's going to get paid to sit and develop behind Kirk. Congrats to him. A lot of people are mad about this pick, but I'm not mad about it. It makes sense, and we still have a lot of draft left.

Falcon fan for life here. That being said... What in the SAMHILL is going on with this pick?!?!

They got a 90 year old quarterback with 4 different ACL surgeries at 8 overall after giving Kirk a $200 mil contract. Wow

bold choice to do a press conference after that disaster

So glad to not be a falcons fan rn

Bears fan here.. just stopping by to see what y’all doing

This man is sabotaging the falcons . He was with the enemy 18 years he has tongo

Is it important that Terry emphasized that Kirk is our Quarterback? I feel like its important for Kirk to hear, but hollow when it comes to the fans.

They looked in the cupboard and went “we have no bread, no milk, no eggs, but we do have a lot of cheese, so let’s get more cheese”

This is the type of pick that sets a franchise back 5+ years

“Building for the future” - Falcons GM, Michael Penix jr is gunna flipping be 27 or 28 by the time Kirk Cousin’s contract is up 💀💀, is bro on crack

You guy's don't know what your talking about After last season QB play and Mariota play they had to go QB in the 1st. Not to mention they will not have a 1st next yr cause of the penalty for Cousin and also when Falcons got that DE from Washington that told me they was going after Penix jr. They already have Carter and the DE from Ohio State thats tall long and big can't remember his name. Now Falcons are good at the QB position for the next 10 to 15 yrs and Penix throw dimes and run a 4.45. You guy's just be talking you don't look at the roster after FA then put your 2s together you just go complaining. Penix is the best deep ball thrower in this draft. They will go DE or CB in the second Penn State has another solid DE still on the board and another good CB thats fast and physical in the second round run a 4.4 and 5'11

Falcons are the new Raiders when it comes to the draft

Atlanta drafting Penix is a fireable offense. Penix is a 6 yr injury history having college player who will be 24 in 2 weeks. By the time he takes over for Cousins he’ll be 27-28 yrs old and needing to be signed to a bigger contract. Penix needs to play now not 3-4 yrs from now. Atlanta is a good team now and spent their entire cap space to win now on a QB. Horrible horrible move. This guy should be fired

Grabs a RB last year when you didn't need one and you had other holes to fill. And then grabs a QB when you already have one and have GAPING holes to fill in your team. These guys are daft

So much for Kirk being the guy huh? lol Atlanta laughing stock of the NFL. Over pay and overreach.

Plus look at the rest of this offense it very young. Robinson, London, Pitts,Alligier.

This will either be the best or worst decision Atlanta has ever made. I think we can still address pass rush in the 2nd round. I just dont think Dallas Turner was going to make our break our season.

All the former General Managers on here slay me! U do not have the info that the teams do. It's all a crap shoot. None of us truly know the outcome of these picks. Anyone telling u they do definitively is a liar. I'm on board w the pick until he is a bust. Meanwhile I hope for the best.

After sleeping on it and getting over the shock of the pick. This is really the best move. Way to go falcons.

If Arthur didn't command this, these two have no business being NFL management. There is no way to rationalize that pick, it's just bad, very bad.

I say 2nd round we address Penix’s successor. Lock up the future’s future

Haven't been a fan or watched the Falcons in well over a decade. After their first round draft pick this year, I will continue to not watch the Falcons. Mr. Blank, if you see my message, reach out to me, and I can definitely help your organization improve immensely.

terry made this pick like his job isnt on the line, arthur is gone anything else goes bad its on him, he needed to draft to make the team better now

And when its winning hope all yall eat your words

Let's not sit here and act like this has never happened before Brett and Aaron

as a panther fan i love this pick

Let's face it, Falcons fans, we'll have a top 10 pick next season too

The last 5 years NFL teams has had trouble with a good quarterback, do you know why? Because teams has not been grooming rookie quarterbacks - teams of late has been throwing rookies out there and making them look like a bust because they haven’t had time to develop and learn under a veteran quarterback. And when they look like crap their first year people want to call them a bust. Look at Brady he came in under Bledsoe, Rogers under Farve, and so on. The reason the Falcons have had problems the last 2 years is because we didn’t allow a quarterback to learn under Ryan. Look at the problems the Saints been having since Brees. They also didn’t get no one ready under Brees and we all felt like he was about to retire.

2 ACL tears. (both right knee). Shoulder fracture, Shoulder Tear. "We felt good about it" - Terry Fontenot.

The two men in this video will be throwing refreshening their resumes because they will be out of THIS job in Atlanta in less than 3 years. You are not winning “immediately” or going to be picking after 15 in next years draft just because you have Cousins in the fold now. Your defense is trash, and has been trash for a decade. You have drafted ZERO defensive stars nor developed any defensive draftees into stars or even above average players on that side of the ball in the 3+ drafts since TF took over. Bottom of league in sacks, bottom of league in run defense, bottom of league in DVOA, and you had a top 10 pick with zero defensive players off the board and you draft a QB!? Give us all a break. Stupid is as stupid does, and the ATL GM and management and Ownership is S-T-U-P-I-D.

Thank Christ I’m not a Falcons fan. Must be so damn exhausting

It doesn't look like the best decision at the moment.... But if we are having positive thoughts here and plan on having a great couple seasons with Kirk....then we will be low in the draft where it would be hard to draft a quality QB!! So that means when Kirk retire we will be starting from scratch!! Also, if Kirk just so happen to get injured....I have more faith that MPJ will be able to carry the torch oppose to Taylor Heinicke

Terry look like he want all the smoke. Trust the process

The Falcons are setting themselves up to win now and to win long term. The Falcons now have their QB position set for the next 12- 15 years. If the Falcons do well with Cousins, they would have been drafting at the back end of the each round and its hard to find a good QB without trading up, which can be pricy from that far back.I love the pick because I don't want 2 or 3 years of "win now" in which we get to the playoffs but no SB, then become irrelevant again because we don't have a QB and we go through the whole "fire the coach" thing again, and have to start all over. I'd rather have the QB position set for many years so now we can add pieces where needed and be in contention every year. That's what this pick is about.

Time will tell how this pick plays out, lets hope it turns out good.

This was an amazing pick.

We don’t even have the o-line for Penix. McGary protecting this sick note’s blind side?! He’s going to die after 6 games

Kirk is 35 off an Achilles surgery and wasn’t mobile before that. Last year, over 60 QBs started in the league. Having a viable guy at backup is never a bad investment. He can now sit and learn under a mature veteran for a couple years. Y’all got your future, and are really well positioned, W pick

I am so sorry falcons fans

The pick makes sense. Their reasoning sounds good. We will see

Watching these two clowns try to act as if drafting a player, who can’t be on the field at the same time as Cousins, was the best they could do is insane.

Absolute best decision by ATL. ATL still has several draft picks left in a draft where most 1st round grade defenders fell into the 2nd round because of the record number of offensive players in the first round. Almost every great QB sat behind another for a year or two plus. Tom, Aaron, Patrick, etc. Jordan love, even Jimmy Garapolo was decent if not for injuries. Most of the ones that don’t (sit behind a qb) fizzle out after 2 or 3 seasons because the fan base is too impatient to let them develop, or get injured from sacks behind a shakey offensive line and or from holding the ball too long because they can’t process plays fast enough. In a year or two he (penix) will be ready and more developed. If he can beat out Kirk this year or next year even better, as it shows you got a real good qb. Otherwise I don’t see why he can’t beat out Kirk in 2-3 years, unless Kirk is playing at an mvp level. Penix, if not for injury concerns and Caleb/Jayden could have easily been the number 1 qb in this draft or another year.

Some of yall don't understand "best player available" and it shows. Props to Fontenot for staying disciplined to his strategy no matter what fans and analysts think

Texan fan here. I wanted to watch this press conference to try to understand the reasoning behind the decision to pick Penix at #8. I actually picked you guys to win NFC South this year because you have some great offensive weapons. I don't understand by-passing the best defensive player at his position for the fourth best offensive player. Fortunately, you have a lot of draft capital left to ease the shock.

Kudos to the Falcons. Teams need to stop treating their qbs like fragile ego maniacs and just be real about needing the best possible players they can get.

The pick came completely out of nowhere. And the kicker is that Cousins didnt even know about it until the Falcons were ready to select Penix. But here's the situation, Cousins is 36 and coming off of a serious injury. All it would take is one misstep or hit and he's out again for who knows how long. A couple reasons here, is Cousins rehab behind schedule and the achilles was worse than Falcons were led to believe? And did Atlanta tip their hand that Cousins will be a Falcon for only 2 years (and maybe less) you don't draft a QB in the top 10 unless you intend to start him in the near future. Sounds as if Atlanta may already have some buyers remorse with the Cousins signing.

You excited for Kirk but don’t tell you drafting a QB? Sounds like some double tongued snake talk

As a Tampa Bay Fan i love this pick Terry and Raheem 😂😂😂😂😂

The Incompetence, the Falcons are getting laughed out the building right now😂

So the whole decision was based on the confidence that they are going to be so good that they will never be picking this high again? Boys you better win….

Panthers fans here. Penix would be more intriguing if y’all didn’t give Kirk a bag after he tore his Achilles at age 35. I was scared yall were gonna draft Turner or Odunze

Cant win with no pass rush, idk why no one gets this part.