Surprise: Michael Penix Jr. to Atlanta not Seahawks in NFL draft. UW’s Rome Odunze picked
Michael Penix Jr. has his new home.
It’s not returning to Seattle.
The Atlanta Falcons made the first hugely unexpected pick in the NFL draft by making Penix the eighth-overall selection Thursday night.
A buzz — of surprise — went through Seahawks headquarters as the Falcons took Penix. The Washington Huskies’ deep-strike quarterback the last two years was the runner-up to LSU’s Jayden Daniels for the Heisman Trophy in December.
The Falcons drafted Penix six weeks after they gave veteran NFL quarterback Kirk Cousins a $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed.
The Seahawks have Penix’s play caller at UW, Ryan Grubb, as their new offensive coordinator. That led to speculation Seattle might have a fascinating choice to make from its spot picking 16 in round one Thursday.
League sources had told The News Tribune earlier Thursday the Seahawks didn’t expect to be in the market to draft a quarterback in the first round. But they didn’t expect Penix to still be available when they were set to choose.
The Falcons made the Penix issue moot for the Seahawks, by making Penix the fourth quarterback taken in the top eight.
Penix joins Jake Locker in 2011 as the highest-drafted quarterbacks in UW history.
Right behind Penix to Atlanta at eight, the Chicago Bears drafted Rome Odunze at nine. Odunze was Penix’s top target with the Huskies.
Odunze will catch passes in Chicago from Caleb Williams. The Bears selected Williams, 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC, number one overall, as expected.
Odunze is the highest-drafted Huskies wide receiver in UW history.
Such is the result of Washington’s 21-game winning streak, Pac-12 championship and appearance in college football’s national championship game in January.
This story was originally published April 25, 2024 at 6:32 PM.
