Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot created a situation for himself in which there is no way to win. And he only continues to make things even worse every time he opens his mouth.
The organization’s entire NFL Draft process is truly inexplicable!
Fontenot sent shockwaves across the entire league by taking Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick just weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a $100-million+ deal. Live video from the first round appeared to show him scramble to explain the decision to owner Arthur Blank, who is up there in age. He certainly failed to do so during the press conference on Thursday night.
There was very little reason for Atlanta to select a quarterback with a top-10 pick. Fontenot offered an all-time spin zone by essentially saying that Cousins is actually going to be so good that the Falcons will not have an opportunity to draft a top signal-caller in the next few years. Penix will be his successor, even though he is already 23 years old.
It was quite the reach!
Herein lies the irony. Fontenot used that exact word — reach — in a negative capacity to discuss another befuddling NFL Draft decision.
Defensive back was a glaring position of need for Atlanta. The Falcons need a corner.
They did not draft one.
Why? Because Fontenot didn’t want to reach. Seriously!
We would have liked to add that position, but you don’t want to force a reach or do something you shouldn’t.
— Terry Fontenot
Atlanta’s general manager did not want to “force a reach” at one of the deepest positions in this year’s NFL Draft class, which is also of need for the organization. Instead, he forced a reach for a quarterback that was not expected to go in the first 10 picks less than a month after paying $100M+ to a free agent.
Make it make sense!
At this point, Fontenot is on the hot seat. The Atlant Falcons hired him in 2021 and if they don’t make the playoffs this year, he may not survive much longer. Rather, he should not survive much longer.