The Falcons surprised many in the first round of the draft. They selected quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick, even after signing Kirk Cousins in free agency. This wasn’t the only move the Falcons had planned for the first round.

Despite their efforts to move up in the top-10 order, the Falcons were unsuccessful. However, they were still able to land Penix as a potential successor to Cousins. It was revealed in a Jets team video that the Falcons were interested in trading for the 10th overall pick, but the Jets declined. The Falcons’ decision to draft Penix has been met with criticism due to the lack of immediate impact he might provide in 2024.

In the Jets’ video, it’s clear that the Falcons wanted to keep the 8th pick while also acquiring the 10th. This would have come at a steep price, likely requiring future draft picks. Alternatively, moving up to the top 10 would have given the Falcons a choice of defensive prospects in the 2024 class.

While there were speculations about other defensive players, a source indicated that the Falcons were considering Penix, Alabama’s Dallas Turner, and Texas’ Byron Murphy before the draft. After drafting Penix, the Falcons made four consecutive defensive picks, focusing on D-linemen and an edge rusher. These picks are expected to contribute more as rookies compared to Penix, assuming Cousins remains healthy in 2024.