The NFL’s latest quarterback sensation, Michael Penix Jr., is already turning heads despite having just two starts under his belt.
The Falcons’ eighth overall pick from Washington showed promise in Sunday’s Week 17 clash against the Washington Commanders, though his efforts fell short in a 30-24 loss to Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and company.
Daniels orchestrated a clinical 12-play, 70-yard drive, connecting with tight end Zach Ertz on a 2-yard touchdown pass to seal the game.
Penix’s stat line was respectable – 19 completions on 35 attempts for 255 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, while taking two sacks along the way.
Even with this limited playing time, NBA legend Paul Pierce isn’t waiting to sing Penix’s praises.
During a recent appearance on Fox Sports 1’s “SPEAK,” Pierce boldly ranked Penix as the second-best quarterback from the 2024 NFL draft class.
“I try not to be a prisoner of the moment but you can’t fool the eyes, and the eye test is going to tell you everything when you just look at directly in the eye, you stare it down,” Pierce declared. “From what I see, I believe he is the second-best rookie quarterback.”
.@paulpierce34 says Michael Penix Jr. is the 2nd best rookie QB
“You can’t fool the eyes… I’ll never forget when Chris Paul came into the league, I played one pickup game against him & I was like, this dude is going to be one of the best players. You just see it.” pic.twitter.com/seAD37PYJA
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) December 30, 2024
Pierce drew an interesting parallel, comparing his first impression of Penix to when he first watched Chris Paul play.
Just as he instantly recognized Paul’s future greatness, Pierce sees similar potential in Penix.
The rookie quarterback’s composure has been particularly impressive – even in just his second start, he kept the Falcons competitive while avoiding typical rookie mistakes.
Despite the Falcons now sitting at 8-8 after Sunday’s loss, the future looks bright with Penix at the helm.
His early performances suggest Atlanta might have found their long-term answer at quarterback, giving fans plenty to be excited about moving forward.
