Why the Atlanta Falcons drafting Michael Penix was actually a good move

The Atlanta Falcons have received a lot of criticism for drafting quarterback Michael Penix in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but host Aaron Freeman is joined by guest Matt Waldman (‪@MattWaldmanRSPFilmRoom‬) to explain why it was a good move. Matt explains why the Falcons need insurance behind an aging Kirk Cousins and why he thinks Cousins' negative reaction to the pick needs to be kept in check.
Later, they discuss why Penix's accuracy and ability to handle pressure are underrated aspects of his game, before discussing how he can benefit from sitting for multiple seasons in contrast to most young quarterbacks.
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[@Triton4903]

Really enjoyed Matt as a guest. He showed his knowledge of film while also being entertaining

[@skyhawk4946]

Hilarious, Kirky chains just wants his money and no threat of a backup QB. Why do you think the Vikings had Sean Marion as their backup QB? That fool couldn't win a high school game. But he was no threat to Kirky, so Kirky was a happen camper. Money for nothing and no need to make the playoffs. Great job Falcons on drafting a real QB.

[@JohnMorganMayBeDangerous]

Easily the best Atlanta draft analysis I've seen yet. Kudos.

[@jbm9360]

Damm he broke everything down I love this guest he knows his stuff

[@JohnnyR-kt4oo]

That part!

[@nebtalks]

I appreciate this guest today, thanks Aaron

[@say5070]

I love how everyone loves this guest but I watched the video last yr about Ridder and people thought he was being negative lol. But this guy knows his stuff so I like him this yr too lol

[@dawgsrule88]

A lot of Fans are excited good with this pick (Penix) but the media wants us to be against it.

[@Angrychef-jx8bp]

That’s what I feel, they want the people to hate anything the Falcons do really. Goes back before this year, anything we do that’s remotely questionable gets blown out of proportion.

[@markcarani9015]

He has made very good points. I was just as shocked as everybody on draft day, but this guy nailed Ridder last year and I didn't want to believe him. I believe him now.

[@38657]

This was a great episode. Good job Aaron! Matt was awesome. Love his work.

[@blackthunderbolt3699]

Let him sit let him learn let them coach... we are the new Atlanta Falcons and we came to play to win 🏆 championship team is what we're building and winning team in Atlanta now and beyond

[@anonymousreviewer116]

Really good guest tonight

[@mas2913]

Enjoyed the discussion…better informed

[@donaldwilcock5850]

Good guest Aaron

[@HoldenCaulfield]

Matt gets it

[@jamesmiller7457]

Love the old school 🏫 perspective!!!!

[@Angrychef-jx8bp]

Thought this was gonna be like the last 5 Penix videos. But great guest 😂

[@lonmcfly9829]

Great Interview

[@ChainsGone2012]

I love Matt Waldman. It's amazing that you got him on the show. Great talk

[@richarddix7616]

Great analysis! Hooah I loved the pick when I heard and at the barbershop two days before we said pick a QB! Hooah

[@bu11dogmike69]

Great guest!

[@jamesgreen4563]

I appreciate reading your comments. They have some smart fans here. It's just my opinion & I don't know as much as you all. But I think it was a good pick to get Michael P. Only time will tell. Is Dallas Turner going to be that good? I don't know QB injuries happen so fast . I like the pick.

[@tejshdesai5031]

Another thing people seem to be mad about is the “Well if we were drafting Penix, why did we sign Kirk?” First off, I want you to put yourself in your shoes at the beginning of this off season. After three straight seasons of 7-10, we decide to sign Jacoby Brissett. How pissed would you be? And obviously, signing Brissett signals to the rest of the league that we are likely going QB in the draft. Now take yourself to draft night, with the knowledge that all these teams (Vikings, Raiders, Broncos, Seahawks, Saints) need QB. With the knowledge now that all of those teams were very high on Penix, do you genuinely think Penix would fall to 8 for us? No. We would HAVE to trade up to 5 minimum to take Penix before any of those other teams could. So by signing Kirk, not only did we trick the league into thinking we weren’t going QB and therefore saving future assets, we are going to have a minimum of 2 years of fun playoff football after 6 years of agony, and we also got our future QB who’s timeline aligns with all of our offensive pieces. Hope that provides some context.

[@andrewnicholas9954]

I been saying this same information. People would’ve been pissed if we sign any other QB

[@JohnnyR-kt4oo]

That part!

[@hucklebuck7149]

Thank you!! This assessment was refreshing, in light of the way the decision had received such negative coverage nationally.

[@Cjhilly]

🎯 Spot on

[@lavs8696]

finally someone who calls out the flaws in Daniels and Mayes games. Penix was my QB2 too

[@vernonoatesjr9910]

Love the way he broke everything down, he said everything ive been saying

[@Boss2164]

Ohhhh now it’s a good move after the dust settles lol yall guys are funny. I knew it was a great pick, the pass rushers this year is ass

[@stxmisanthrope]

Penix's biggest flaw to me is he throws with his arm. He doesn't incorporate his lower body.

[@Angrychef-jx8bp]

That can be fixed in 2 years, mechanics being flawed yet still knows how throw with accuracy and leverage is a great problem to me

[@1964gry]

Don't be a Karen,Kirk Don't be that guy,k?😂😂😂😂

[@hugeboi3669]

Kirk didn't even say anything, it's the media trying to start a fire. And it's reasonable for him to be surprised, former NFL QBs reacted like this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gn-6dYCLZbespLs

[@derrickhrabowski8759]

He's a good QB! Jus the wrong 1 for this draf plan to old should had got a young QB

[@Cjhilly]

Jayden daniels and bo nix the same age, tf are u talking about?

[@damann2889]

The only running I've seen from Cousins as a Falcon so far is that he seems to run that mouth bit too reckless. If the Falcons get hit with a tampering fine, his introductory interview remarks will be a big reason for that. A 13-year veteran should know what he can and can't say, and then to run his mouth out of turn at draft time, bringing controversy to the team that just paid him a guaranteed $100 million doesn't show any loyalty of veteran savvy. He's fine with the NFL being a business when it means mega-millions for him, but wants to forget that because his team drafts his successor!?! He'll be 36 when the 2024 season starts and he's coming off a bad Achilles. Does he really think his team shouldn't be thinking about his successor? No guarantee he'll be able to make it though this season, much less his contract. He should be a lot more grateful than he appears to be. Lastly, I'll admit I was a bit surprised with the Penix pick, but I believe it was a smart move.

[@jaylew651]

I think we should be a lil more respectful to Cousins. It’s kinda fake. Before we knew we would land Penix we all was super high hopes on Cousins.(outside the tampering). Respect current Qb1 a lil more. He still the best and only real Qb we done had in half a decade ( don’t change uo because we got a future sitting behind him now) . Let go this!

[@JN-ye8qo]

AARON NOT WHINING TODAY? YESS!! He's gotta bring more level headed guests on to counter his emotional nature.

[@say5070]

I can't accept this. I been watching Aaron for yrs. He is very level headed and right most times. And that comes from being a Falcons fan. I been a fan for over 20 yrs and if you get too high, you will be disappointed and if you get too low they will far exceed your expectations and then disappoint you. It's best just to watch them as if they aren't your team and judge then accordingly.

[@JN-ye8qo]

@@say5070 We can agree to disagree. 😆

[@say5070]

@JN-ye8qo ...your proposal is acceptable lol. Rise up.

[@JN-ye8qo]

@@say5070 RISE UP BABY!!! This pass rush is going to be better than folks think!!

[@OMTstudios]

Everyone knows Aaron is a loose cannon. This on-screen character is a work.

[@ernestpolk9555]

Are we talking about the real Falcons, here??????? They should have told the NEW guy this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@coachdc404]

Sorry but Arthur Smith's offense was terrible no matter who the qb would be 😂

[@1964gry]

Im finally starting to understand this rabid negativity coming from you fans.You all got the jabs didnt you.Word.Gary out.

[@Dee-hs4ve]

Yall beating a dead horse with this Penix talk bro

[@user-mp6dl7wc9z]

Even if Penix is Mahomes 2.0 you don't sign 100 Million for a BACK UP QB in Kirk ...

[@nicholasmallard2926]

If Penix turns into Mahomes 2.0 then there's a party going on in Flowery Branch!🥳 Cousins will be gone in 2 years once his garenteed money is paid! The Cap will be higher and the falcons will be able to resign Pitts, London, and Bijan with the increasing Cap around the league!

[@user-mp6dl7wc9z]

@@nicholasmallard2926 no there is a problem you wasted 100 million on Kirk which could have been the difference between Penix winning a SB and losing a SB BUFFALO CHIEFS etc all used their rookie QB deal to build the teams around their rookie QB and that is if he is Mahomes he won't have as good a team as Mahomes. Now the odds of Penix busting are 80 percent. And if he doesn't bust the odds are 20 percent and out of that 20 percent chance he is not as good as Kirk but more like an average starter and here's the thing you can NEVER be sure if Penix will be a bust unless he plays a full year minimum so let's say in 2 years Kirk is a top 10 QB you will have no idea if Penix is a bust or not Love looked like a bust until half way through the season .... imagine dumping Kirk he goes somewhere continues playing at top 10 level AND then Penix busts or is below average WHAT A BLOW THAT WOULD BE

[@nicholasmallard2926]

@@user-mp6dl7wc9z And if 36 year old Kirk goes down then WHO IS COMING IN? The Penix pick made perfect sense considering the BS that was QBing for the Falcons the last two seasons! Taylor ain't it and Morris was right that a successor should have been drafted before Matt Ryan left!

[@user-mp6dl7wc9z]

@@nicholasmallard2926 If you think Kirk is going to get hurt or suck DO NOT PAY HIM 100 Million what you did ensures you will win LESS GAMES NOW WITH KIRK and you will less games with PENIX IN THE FUTURE if he takes over you have screwed both players in terms of possible wins by doing this

[@nicholasmallard2926]

@@user-mp6dl7wc9z Newsflash it's Football!! Anyone can get injured because it's a contact sport!! Whether you pay 20m or 100m that player has the same chances of getting injured as everyone in the league! You have no idea how Penix would respond if Kirk goes down(Hopefully this dosen't happen)! This could turn out to be a Bledsoe and Brady moment! You never know!

[@tommydavidwalker2445]

No it wasn't. Putting that much draft and free agent capital into one position is never a good decision. Terry doesn't draft to build a team. He drafts like he's playing video games

[@ahop]

Bout time a guest with some positivity towards the situation and bout time you not whining and crying about it was finna unsubscribe

[@raymoon439]

Oh no....

[@cipha2323]

This was a lot of analysis about Penix. This didn't have anything to do with the Falcons and the overall context of the pick. He might end up being phenomenal but that won't negate the fact that we gave Kirk 110 million bands for no reason.

[@robinbeddingfield3427]

Bwhahahaha backtracking are we? Mr. Freeman?or should I say Mr. Wishy Washy!?

[@LovelyRobotFigurine-lr5pu]

This pic was garbage no matter how you suger coat it is a braindead pick especially for the falcons , picked for the gm to keep his job for at least 3 more years if he picks a wr,de,or cb hes fired after nxt season if the p8ck doesnt work out with this he has at least 3 more years and the coach , unbelievable , he should hv been fired on the spot

[@jbrew7396]

If he becomes one of the best QB in the NFL everyone is going to look back and say this pick was genius. You’re overreacting just like most fans.

[@1964gry]

Your fandom is Garbage 🗑️🗑️🗑️

[@deelawton4]

Boo hoo 😭

[@jbrew7396]

@@deelawton4 crazy how much people are crying smh

[@deelawton4]

@@jbrew7396I know right. 😂