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PFF ranks Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. ahead of former 1st overall pick
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- PFF ranks Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. ahead of former 1st overall pick
With Michael Penix Jr. set to lead an impressive stable of playmakers, the Atlanta Falcons offense is ready to take off in 2025. Those around the NFL initially criticized the team for selecting Penix with the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, but many have changed their tune after one season.
Penix sat behind Kirk Cousins for most of the year while others, including Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and Commanders QB Jayden Daniels , started from Week 1. Daniels took home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award while Williams posted solid numbers.
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Bo Nix and Drake Maye also played well in what was one of the better seasons for rookie quarterbacks in recent memory. Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 starting quarterbacks ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Penix came in at No. 23 on PFF's list, one spot ahead of Williams.
Penix's NFL sample size is small but promising. Across 114 dropbacks, he earned an 87.9 overall grade — a number inflated by a dominant Week 18 performance that included seven big-time throws and a 95.6 game grade. He's clearly capable of that level of play, but the week prior told a different story, as he struggled with accuracy and finished with a 54.3 passing grade. Accuracy and performance under pressure were question marks coming out of college. If he can improve in those areas, his ranking will rise in a hurr y. -- John Kosko, PFF
The Bears are surely happy with Williams after the former No. 1 pick passed for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. So why would PFF rank Penix ahead of Williams?
It comes down to the eye test. Williams made some incredible plays but also routinely held onto the ball too long. He took 68 sacks last season, which is why the Bears aggressively went after former Falcons center Drew Dalman in free agency.
Penix's pocket presence and ability to get the ball out on time made the offense in those final few games of the 2024 season. With a dominant running game, led by Bijan Robinson and one of the better offensive lines in the NFL, Penix will every chance to put up big numbers and potentially lead the Falcons to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
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This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons' Michael Penix ranked ahead of Bears' Caleb Williams by PFF
