Kirk Herbstreit Reacts To Atlanta Picking Michael Penix Jr. On 'Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich'

Kirk Herbstreit discussed the Atlanta Falcons’ decision to draft Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich."

Most of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft went as expected, but most NFL experts did not foresee the Falcons selecting the Huskies’ signal-caller with the No. 8 overall pick. Many suspected Atlanta would bolster their subpar defense with their first selection, but that obviously wasn’t the case.

However, Herbstreit isn’t surprised at all by this pick, and indicated the Falcons got a solid athlete at No. 8. He mentioned that every time he called a Washington game this past season, he left impressed by Penix Jr.

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws a pass against Michigan Wolverines linebacker Junior Colson (25) during the first quarter in the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

"Five times I had a chance to watch this kid in person and every single time we’d walk out of the booth..I'd just be like, ‘Man there's just something about that kid,’" Herbstreit said. "He’s as accurate as anybody."

Falcons And Michael Penix Is A Future Play

Despite all of the talent Penix brings to the table, the Falcons appeared to have their quarterback situation figured out. Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal in March, which is the biggest reason why the pick surprised people.

READ: Young Falcons Fan Goes Viral For Sad Reaction To Michael Penix Pick

But Herbstreit sees the pick in the long-term view, and said that drafting Penix and letting him learn under Cousins for a year or two could be a wise move. He pointed out that that plan worked well for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who sat behind Alex Smith at the beginning of his career.

As such, he thinks that Penix Jr. could benefit from a similar strategy, and believes Cousins will help the rookie succeed as best as he can.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 2: Michael Penix #QB08 of Washington participates in a drill during the NFL Combine at the Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

"If you’re Michael Penix, don’t know if you could find a better situation with some of the talent that they’ve been able to bring in around the quarterback spot," Herbstreit said. "It’s basically a redshirt year for Penix. Hopefully, Cousins is almost going to be like a coach… Hopefully there’s a great relationship there and he’s really teaching him. I think Kirk will be that kind of guy."

While we likely won’t be able to see just how good Penix can be for a few years, Herbstreit is optimistic it will be a good fit for the team and the player.

"We’ll reevaluate that (pick) in a couple of years, but I think it’s a good spot for him," he said.