Rookies Michael Penix Jr. and Drake Maye both started the 2024 season sitting – but former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith has explained why his former franchise has handled it better than the New England Patriots.
The Falcons picking Penix Jr. eighth overall on NFL Draft night was a huge shock after the franchise decided to pay veteran Kirk Cousins big off the back of his Achilles injury sustained the season prior at the Minnesota Vikings.
Atlanta reasoned that they are looking out for the Falcons‘ long-term future at quarterback, with Cousins captaining the present, and Penix Jr. the future of the franchise.
Meanwhile, in the north, the Patriots have long been searching for Tom Brady’s long-term successor. Failures with Bailey Zappe and Mac Jones saw the Patriots go 4-13 and pick up the third overall NFL Draft pick, which they used on North Carolina Tar Heels’ Maye.
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Both Penix Jr. and Maye started their rookie campaigns deputizing a more experienced quarterback, with the latter sitting behind Jacoby Brissett. However, former Falcons head coach Smith says Atlanta’s handling of Penix Jr. could serve them better, as the rookie QB has Cousins to learn from, as well as a solid offensive line to work with.
Maye has been thrown in at the deep end, with the Patriots already off to a 1-5 start in 2024. Maye started his first NFL game last weekend, a home defeat to the high-flying Houston Texans. “The Patriots tried doing what the Falcons are doing which is putting their first-round draft pick on the sideline to watch,” Smith told Betway.
“But in Atlanta, you have Penix Jr watching Cousins with a pretty solid offensive line and a number of good players around him. So, you’re seeing an experienced quarterback with weapons and seeing what an offense is supposed to look like.”
Michael Penix Jr. is sitting behind Kirk Cousins in Atlanta and has a solid offensive line to work with (
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Drake Maye started his first NFL game against the Texans after originally sitting behind Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots offensive line is less impressive to that in Atlanta (
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Smith doesn’t doubt that Maye will become a great NFL quarterback, though, it just may take longer, with the roster needing some big players arriving via the draft, trade, or free agency, over the next few seasons. Maye’s next outing could be New England’s clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday morning. “It’s really tough right now for the Patriots,” Smith continued.
“Drake Maye very well may be a great quarterback but there’s a reason why coach Mayo didn’t name him the starter at the beginning of the season. But looking forward, I think Drake Maye is going to be a great quarterback in this league.”
The Falcons appear poised to reach the playoffs this season after recording four wins and two losses, with Cousins starting. However, Penix Jr. has been preparing in the wings in case the 36-year-old quarterback sustains an injury.
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