The main topic of discussion throughout this weekend’s NFL Draft was the selection of University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. by the Atlanta Falcons, a decision that sparked intense disagreement. Based on a video of Mina Kimes criticising the selection on ESPN’s First Take, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini claims that the “majority” of head coaches and general managers she has spoken to about the Penix Jr. pick share Kimes’ opinion that the pick is illogical.“The justification seems a little illogical to me. If you’re paying Kirk Cousins a guaranteed $100 million because you think he’s going to be fantastic, you’re not helping your team improve so it can compete right now. For the individual or the team, it just doesn’t add up,” Kimes argues in part.Curiously, Russini also mentioned that a general manager expressed his belief that the selection is even more nonsensical considering the age of Falcons owner Arthur Blank, stating that he doesn’t care about the team’s future beyond 2026 since he wants to win now.
“How old is Mr. Blank? Right now, he wants to triumph. He’s not fixated on ’26 and later. Russini was reportedly informed by an NFL general manager that “they have needs now.” The unidentified general manager’s reasoning that Blank doesn’t necessarily care about what happens to the Falcons in the upcoming years suggests it has more to do with his mortality than impatience, as it is doubtful that Blank would be selling the franchise before then. The 81-year-old Blank paid $545 million to the son of team founder Rankin M. Smith in 2002 to acquire the Atlanta Falcons. As of now, the Falcons are valued at approximately $4 billion.
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