Turf Show Times
Albeit on a small sample size, Michael Penix seems primed for success with Atlanta Falcons
One of the biggest breaks for the Los Angeles Rams over the 2025 offseason was acquiring the Atlanta Falcons’ first round pick next year as part of a trade down from the 26th overall selection in the NFL Draft. This pick will surely help LA future-proof the quarterback position or make a splash trade for a key veteran in hopes of putting the roster of the top amidst a Super Bowl run.
But if second-year Falcons QB Michael Penix, Jr. has anything to say about it, Atlanta’s pick could be later in the first round than we’ve seen in recent years.
Albeit on a small sample size of just three full starts, Penix impressed as a rookie and seems primed for success with the Falcons.
The NFL spin cycle has spent the last couple of weeks talking up the Chicago Bears’ offseason and how the ecosystem around Caleb Williams should be dramatically better. The New England Patriots put together one of the league’s best draft classes this year as they revamp the supporting cast around Drake Maye.
Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix made the playoffs last year with the Washington Commanders and Denver Broncos, respectively, and each of their teams have continued making improvements.
That leaves Penix and JJ McCarthy as last year’s first round quarterbacks flying under the radar. McCarthy enters the 2025 season as one of the players under the most pressure across the entire NFL as he picks up the mantle and lofty expectations from Sam Darnold. We still haven’t seen the former Michigan Wolverine in regular season action, though if every other first round quarterback from last year’s first round hits the luck must run out at some point.
Three full starts is far from a conclusive sample size; however, you can’t help but come away impressed from what Penix put on tape as a rookie. The advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (PFF) puts his standout play into perspective as well:
75.4 OFF; 77.7 PASS; 80.8% ADJ COMP; 5.9 ADOT
0 big-time throws (BTT); 0 turnover-worthy plays (TWP)
The game plan in the rookie’s first start was understandably conservative, given the relatively low average depth of target figure. Still, he made the most of his passing attempts and was on target for over 80% of his throws.
53.0 OFF; 54.3 PASS; 55.9% ADJ COMP; 12.7 ADOT
2 BTT; 2 TWP
The one game of the three that came versus a playoff contender instead of bottom feeders like the Panthers and Giants, though it’s not like Washington had one of the better defenses across the NFL.
95.6 OFF: 94.5 PASS; 76.5% ADJ COMP; 11.9 ADOT
7 BTT; 0 TWP
One of the...
