The Falcons made the most shocking pick of the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall, a few weeks removed from signing Kirk Cousins to a 180 million dollar contract.
Instead of building for this season around Cousins, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, the team kept an eye on the future and added Cousins' apparent successor in Penix, who finished in second in the Heisman Trophy voting last season.
Despite passing on adding help this season, the Falcons remain the favorite to win the AFC South amidst a mediocre group of teams.