It’s been almost two decades since Michael Vick was unceremoniously exiled from the Atlanta Falcons, ending a quarterback tenure in which a Black quarterback was the biggest star in America’s Blackest city. Since then, the Falcons have been without a Black franchise quarterback.

That may have changed on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL draft when the Falcons used their eighth pick on University of Washington phenom Michael Penix Jr. In a vacuum, this can be a major franchise pick for the team, but the circumstances surrounding the decision make it all the more dramatic … and unpredictable.

The Falcons entered the NFL offseason in desperate need of a franchise quarterback as the team has been foundering in that position since moving on from Matt Ryan in 2021. Things got dire for the team this past season as Desmond Ridder ended the year with 17 touchdowns and 24 turnovers, completing a full retreat from the promise of being a capable starter. The team ended up 7-10 for the third straight year, leading to the firing of its head coach Arthur Smith.

The team seemed to find its franchise quarterback in Kirk Cousins, a 35-year-old coming off of a torn Achilles tendon. His new contract: four years, $180 million – $100 million guaranteed. Cousins is supposed to be the end to the quarterback search, and the dynamic arm who would lift the offense full of weapons to a contender. His age and injury history meant that the Falcons were going to eventually need to find his replacement, but an eighth pick before Cousins has taken his first snap? That’s something else entirely.

Now, the Falcons have a situation in which two quarterbacks who could right the ship are now embroiled in controversy and maybe even a brewing quarterback battle. Falcons coach Raheem Morris said Cousins doesn’t have to look over his shoulder, but one can’t help but be reminded of the movie Any Given Sunday where upstart Willie Beaman came in and challenged the aging white quarterback’s spot.

For the Falcons’ sake, maybe this is a real-life saving grace in the way that we saw quarterback Russell Wilson come in and take over the starting role for the Seattle Seahawks as a rookie in 2012 after the team had signed Matt Flynn to $26 million. But for now, the decision to draft Penix who, like Vick is an athletic southpaw with a cannon for an arm, but who has his own severe injury history, has only attracted criticism.

The Falcons have spent the last couple of years flirting with the prospect of bringing in a Black franchise quarterback to troubling and confounding results. In 2022, the team was desperate to sign Deshaun Watson, who was coming off of an offseason marred by dozens of sexual misconduct allegations. That didn’t seem to matter so much to team owner Arthur Blank, whose dogged pursuit of Watson was no secret. Regardless, Watson went to the Cleveland Browns in an eleventh-hour move.

The next offseason brought the Falcons to considering MVP Lamar Jackson as a free agent, but this time Blank quickly shut that down in a now-infamous comment in March 2023: “Looking at it objectively, I’d say there’s some concern over how long can he play his style of game. Hopefully a long time … but he’s missed five, six games each of the last two years. Each game counts a lot in our business.”

Going all-in on a player with personal issues like Watson and passing on Jackson was always a nonsensical move, but only highlighted by the fact Jackson has since won an MVP and Watson has since missed 22 games. And that’s led the Falcons to this point, with an aging quarterback who has been blindsided by the drafting of a young, hotshot quarterback.

Drafting Penix like this won’t do him any favors, either. Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has indicated that he’s willing to let the rookie sit for years.

“If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him,” he told reporters on draft night. “And if he sits for four or five years, that’s a great problem to have because we’re doing so well at that position. So, it’s as simple as, if you see a guy you believe in at that position, you have to take him.”

Sitting someone four or five years and believing in him seem incongruous, especially if that person is drafted so high in the first round. Every game that Penix sits will represent missed opportunity for Falcons fans. He represents a lost chance at a top pick who could make a difference right now — like, say, Rome Odunze, a dynamic receiver who was drafted with the very next pick.

If Penix does somehow beat out Cousins and earn a starting spot, he’ll also represent a black eye for a franchise that broke the bank for a quarterback who couldn’t even beat out someone who was projected to land in the second round just a month ago.

Right now, all Atlanta and Penix have are hope. Hope that this somehow figures itself out. Hope that he proves the shocked prognosticators wrong by being that franchise quarterback the city desperately needs. 

Culturally, he could signal a return of a generational Black quarterback to a city that has been primed for one since its last great Black hope was ripped from the league. Until then, Penix is going to represent potential and another reason for fans and pundits to question the franchise that drafted him.

After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, the Atlanta Hawks are stuck in arguably the worst position in the NBA — not good enough to contend for a championship but not bad enough to secure a top-five pick in the draft.

Atlanta’s front office will have their hands full this offseason. There are some tough decisions on the horizon as they look to put the organization in the best position possible going forward.

Their upcoming free-agent class is not of much concern, with Saddiq Bey and Garrison Mathews highlighting the small bunch. The lack of draft capital over the next four seasons was not expected to become a problem, but the pairing of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray hasn’t lived up to expectations, with the Hawks posting records of 36-46 and 41-41 in the tandem’s two seasons together. While the Hawks have their first-round pick this year, the San Antonio Spurs own Atlanta’s 2025 first-rounder and 2027 first-rounder along with a swap in 2026 due to the Murray trade.

If the front office decides to give up on this current iteration of the team, other franchises would waste no time picking up the phone in hopes of trading for Young or Murray. Both players would draw significant interest from rival front offices.

Should the Hawks part ways with Dejounte Murray?

Murray has three more guaranteed years remaining on his contract as well as a $31,619,506 player option for the 2027-28 season. However, it seems unlikely that Murray will remain in Atlanta for the duration of his deal. Murray’s lack of individual production has been frustrating for him and the franchise, especially considering the Hawks gave up three first-round picks and a pick swap for the one-time All-Star. He has averaged 21.5 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds on 46.2% shooting from the field and 35.5% from 3-point range in Atlanta. 

A reunion with the Spurs is not out of the equation, especially with San Antonio’s rebuild being expedited by generational talent Victor Wembanyama. Head coach Gregg Popovich is in desperate need of a playmaking point guard who can also act as a No. 2 offensive option behind Wemby. Murray fits this mold despite his numbers dipping with the Hawks, as he averaged 9.2 assists in his last year in San Antonio. The French center has yet to scratch the surface of his potential at 20 years old, but Murray could certainly speed up the process through his familiarity with the Spurs’ system.

Murray understands the Spurs’ style of play so he could contribute right away, unlike other potential targets who would need an adjustment period. A package centered around Atlanta regaining some of their draft capital could be a win for both sides. It’s worth noting that the Spurs were reportedly interested in reacquiring Murray prior to this year’s NBA trade deadline.

“Dejounte Murray is trade eligible starting today…One team that has a level of exploratory interest I’m told, is his former team, the San Antonio Spurs.”@ShamsCharania on Dejounte Murray’s current situation.

📺: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/clX8AebJXn

— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 9, 2024

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Another intriguing destination for Murray is the Orlando Magic, who are in an intense first-round battle with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their backcourt is sufficient in the depth department with Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, and Anthony Black (plus impending free agent Markelle Fultz), but it lacks serious star power. Murray has the potential to push them over the hump and make them a true contender in the East alongside the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Would Orlando be willing to part with Black and cap filler to bring in Murray?

Has Trae Young played his final game with the Hawks?

It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that Young may have played his final game in a Hawks uniform, but their downward spiral in recent years makes it impossible to ignore. His play has remained relatively consistent, with his playmaking improving in each of his six seasons. This season, he averaged a career-high 10.8 assists to go along with 25.7 points. The reality is the team stands no chance against the NBA’s powerhouses with Young and Murray as the top options.

With that said, at 25 years old, it’s not too late to build around the former No. 5 overall pick. Finding gems in upcoming draft classes with acquired picks is the key if they choose to keep Young.

Alternatively, if the Hawks decide to part ways with Young, teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans are always looking to make an offseason splash. Los Angeles is running out of time with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as their centerpieces, with James turning 40 years old at the end of this year. Inconsistencies in their guard pairing of D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves have been their biggest issue in the 2024 NBA playoffs. Acquiring Young would solidify their Big Three as one the best in the Western Conference, perhaps allowing them to challenge the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Meanwhile, Young meshes with the Pelicans’ time frame to near perfection. Their core of Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III are all between the ages of 23–26. Young and Williamson would form a nice one-two punch, with Young being able to carry the load if Williamson is sidelined (as he has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his time in the league).

The option of trading both star guards is also on the table if Atlanta wishes to start fresh and rebuild from the ground up, but re-acquiring their picks is a must if that route is their preferred choice. 

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The 50th annual Southeast Emmy Awards nominations were announced late Sunday at the Thompson Hotel, with Atlanta News First proudly earning 55 nominations.

These awards are the benchmark of excellence in television and new media. 

The Emmy Awards will be given out June 15th at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead-Atlanta, sponsored by our parent company, Gray Television.

Click here to read the full list of official nomination results for the 2024 Southeast Emmy Awards.

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