Michael Penix Jr. is selected eighth overall by Atlanta Falcons in 2024 NFL Draft stunner... as he joins $180million passer Kirk Cousins in QB room

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been selected eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the first stunner of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The pick comes less than two months after Atlanta inked quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180million deal this offseason. 

Penix Jr., the 2023 Heisman Trophy runner-up, led the Huskies to the national championship game last season before they fell to Michigan.

He'll now team up with the likes of Bijan Robinson and Drake London to begin his pro career, though he'll likely sit behind Cousins to start.  

The former Vikings passer, 35, is guaranteed to receive $100milion and also got a $50million signing bonus from Atlanta. 

Michael Penix Jr. #9 of Washington looks on prior to the 2024 CFP National Championship

Penix Jr. looks to throw during the team's NFL football pro day on Thursday, March 28

The selection was a surprising one given the Falcons just signed Kirk Cousins to a huge deal

Penix was projected to be anywhere from a top-10 selection to not hearing his name called until Day 2. He was not in attendance at the draft in Detroit.

The passer, who turns 24 on May 8, has arguably the most natural arm talent in this year's deep quarterback class, but his draft status is murky due to four injuries in four years.

After beginning his career at Indiana, Penix transferred to Washington, a 4-8 program when he signed before the 2022 season. 

He took the Huskies to the College Football Playoff national title game this year, and went 11-2 and 14-1 in his two seasons with Washington.

But before he arrived in Seattle, he had two season-ending shoulder injuries and two ACL tears.