The Atlanta Falcons made the most surprising move on the opening night of the NFL Draft on Thursday, selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick. And things didn’t change much concerning the Falcons’ draft strategy in Round Two of the draft on Friday night.
Understandably, the selection of Penix Jr. was critiqued heavily by many around the NFL world considering the team just brought in Kirk Cousins this offseason. Still, it’s a somewhat defensible move considering Cousins, at the age of 35, is coming off a season where he suffered a torn Achilles.
On Friday, the Falcons confused fans even more by moving up from the No. 43 overall pick, trading with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 35 overall pick. In the move, the Falcons also sent the Cardinals the No. 79 overall pick and received the No. 186 overall pick.
Another surprise from Atlanta: It’s Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro.
Comp: Falcons trade picks No. 43 and a 3rd (79) to Cardinals for picks No. 35 and No. 186 https://t.co/LW6u9FIuH6
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2024
It makes sense for the Falcons to want to trade up here. A number of potential first-round picks had slipped to their pick, including the likes of Jer’Zhan Newton and Cooper DeJean.
So, did the Falcons take one of these top-tier players who had slipped? Not exactly. The Falcons selected Clemson Ruke Orhorhoro with the 35th pick.
The ABC broadcast gets a laugh out of Andre Rison's pronunciation of Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro, the No. 35 overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/ZqvGbbfpXZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 26, 2024
It’s not like drafting Orhorhoro is a bad thing. He is very clearly a talented player who should help the Falcons’ interior defense right away.
But why trade up to select him and give up a third-round pick in the process? Most mock drafts certainly projected that he would be on the board at their original selection. And even then, it probably would have been seen as a pretty big reach in the eyes of most draft experts.
The Falcons also had Jer’Zhan Newton, who plays the same position, on the board at the time to potentially take over Orhorhoro.
As you would expect, many fans took to social media to offer some critical comments about the pick by the Falcons.
It is. Ruke Orhorhoro. Bit of a reach there. #Falcons with another head-scratcher. https://t.co/rxLCETLdNC
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) April 26, 2024
Man, you talk about a weird draft. The Atlanta Falcons are doing some puzzling things. Drafting a soon-to-be 24-year-old Michael Penix when you just have Kirk Cousins $100 million guaranteed at no. 8.
Then taking Ruke Orhorhoro after a trade up at 35.
What is Atlanta's plan?
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) April 26, 2024
The #Falcons traded up for a DT they likely could’ve gotten had they stayed at No. 43 overall.
They traded away one of their two 3rd rounders for this.
— Bryce Lewis (@Bryce_Lewis86) April 26, 2024
Clemson DT Ruke Orhorhoro at no. 35 to Atlanta is now the biggest "reach" of the draft, per to Arif's media consensus board.
The Falcons have the two biggest reaches of the draft thus far with Orhorhoro and Michael Penix Jr. at no. 8 overall.
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) April 26, 2024
I’m convinced Falcons GM Terry Fontenot is George Costanza when he keeps trying to get fired and keeps getting promoted https://t.co/U505Viy8cP pic.twitter.com/VfPSQCizOm
— Danny Heifetz (@Danny_Heifetz) April 26, 2024
Penix Jr. and Orhorhoro certainly have the potential to prove everyone wrong in the future. But on paper, you certainly have to question exactly what the Falcons were thinking with their first two picks in the draft.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.