NE Atlanta News

Michael Penix Jr. has become a focal point of discussion among national media at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, despite not being a participant this year. His name has been prominently mentioned in relation to the Atlanta Falcons and their future prospects.

Head coach Raheem Morris shared insights into Penix's development since being drafted by the Falcons with the No. 8 overall pick in 2024. Morris expressed admiration for Penix's performance, particularly highlighting his "conviction, poise and intelligence" on the field.

Morris noted that these qualities have generated excitement around Penix as a quarterback. "And ultimately, let's be honest," he said, "that's creating a buzz for us, having that solid piece (at quarterback) ready to go."

NFL Network's Cam Wolfe also remarked on Penix's potential impact on the Falcons' future: "To me, more interesting to the Falcons' future is, 'What's next for Michael Penix?'" Wolfe praised Penix for his ability to elevate his game beyond expectations during critical moments.

General manager Terry Fontenot echoed these sentiments by describing Penix as one of their most athletic players and commending his maturity and team spirit. Fontenot stated, "... We all knew the arm talent and what he could do with that, but I would say the maturity is rare."

NBC Sports' Nicole Auerbach reflected on pre-draft evaluations of veteran college quarterbacks like Penix: "... But I hope — and it seems like — veteran college quarterbacks are now what you want (at the NFL level), because you are throwing them into the fire really soon."

The Athletic's Robert Mays summarized this enthusiasm by emphasizing how easy it is to get excited about both Penix's skills and the trajectory of Atlanta's offense: "It's very easy to get excited about what Michael did last year — I mean, he can throw the heck out of the ball."

Penix drew upon his experience when he became Atlanta’s starting quarterback towards the end of last season. His performance in those games has led many to anticipate further growth as he continues working with his teammates.

Interviews featuring these discussions can be found in full on the Atlanta Falcons YouTube page.