Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has invested a ton of assets into the quarterback position this year between the contract for Kirk Cousins and the No. 8 overall pick in Michael Penix Jr. But his recent comments about Penix and the logic behind drafting him have some fans dumbfounded.
Speaking to the media last night, Fontenot made the case that if the 24-year-old Penix were to sit “for four or five years” then it’s a “great problem to have” since he believe it means the team is doing well at the quarterback position.
“If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him. And if he sits for four or five years, that’s a great problem to have because we’re doing so well at that position. So, it’s as simple as, if you see a guy you believe in at that position, you have to take him,” Fontenot said, via Marc Raimondi of ESPN.
NFL fans were did not feel the same way though. Judging by the response on social media, many were downright flabbergasted.
“I’m sorry, I’m not picking someone at 8 to see him half a decade later. Terry can go. Hopefully he gets fired before MP touches the field, then I hope Arthur sells the team,” one user replied.
“I’m sorry but this makes no sense! Are you going to sit him for his whole rookie contracts and pay him $100m+ without knowing if he’s any good for the team??” another wondered.
“So the 24 year old rookie can sit for “4-5 years” and maybe take over before he hits 30. Brilliant,” a third wrote.
It’s a bit of a head-scratching move for Fontenot and the Falcons even if there is some logic behind it.
But it may not matter at all if the Falcons don’t start increasing their win total in the next couple of years.