NFL world reacts to Falcons' shocking decision to draft QB Michael Penix Jr.

It was certainly the shock of the early going of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Atlanta Falcons, with pick No. 8, took Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. despite the fact that they just gave Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract just a few months earlier.

Nobody saw this coming. It wasn't on any of the mock drafts and frankly, outside of the Falcons playing the long game and trying to put together an Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordan Love succession plan — it didn't make much sense.

Frankly, that's a ton of capital to put into one position, especially when the Falcons have multiple holes they still need to fill in order to be Super Bowl contenders.

Again, it didn't make much sense, and the internet reacted about how you'd expect.