Insider who predicted the Falcons to draft Michael Penix Jr. makes 2025 prediction
The Falcons shocked everyone last year when they drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick just weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million free agent contract. Nobody could’ve predicted it, well, except for one insider. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports predicted the Falcons would draft Michael Penix last year, and he’s made […] The post Insider who predicted the Falcons to draft Michael Penix Jr. makes 2025 prediction appeared first on SportsTalkATL.com.
The Falcons shocked everyone last year when they drafted Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick just weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million free agent contract. Nobody could’ve predicted it, well, except for one insider.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports predicted the Falcons would draft Michael Penix last year, and he’s made his prediction for the 2025 cycle. Jones has Atlanta taking James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee.
“The Falcons have the fewest sacks in the entire NFL since 2018, so that must change with their first-round pick. At this point in the mock, Pearce has to be the best pure pass rusher on their board, with 17 1/2 sacks in the past two seasons along with three forced fumbles,” Jones writes.
Pearce isn’t as off-the-wall as Penix was last year; he obviously addresses the Falcons’ biggest need. However, mocking James Pearce Jr. is still going against the grain. There’s a popular prospect among most mock drafts, and that’s Mike Green, who led the country in sacks last year at Marshall.
Most expect the Falcons to draft a pass rusher, whether that’s an interior or edge defender. Green is the most popular, but there’s plenty of noise around Mykel Williams, Shemar Stewart, Walter Nolen, and others.
I know it’s kind of ridiculous to say, though I really do believe it. It almost feels like the Falcons can’t possibly screw this up. Given the expected run on offensive tackles, one of these defensive linemen will be there at the 15th pick. I wouldn’t be mad at any of them.
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Photographer: Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire
The post Insider who predicted the Falcons to draft Michael Penix Jr. makes 2025 prediction appeared first on SportsTalkATL.com.
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