Bijan Robinson Thinks People are Sleeping on One-Key Michael Penix Jr. Trait

The Atlanta Falcons drafted former Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. After sitting behind veteran signal caller Kirk Cousins for 14 games, Penix got his first start with the Falcons against the New York Giants in Week 16, following a poor five-game stint from Cousins in which Atlanta went just 1-4. 

In three games as a starter, Penix showed off his arm talent, specifically his ability to get the ball deep down the field with ease. However, Falcons' star running back Bijan Robinson thinks fans and analysts alike are overlooking one trait that the sophomore quarterback has: athleticism. 

“Another thing with him that I think people like kind of sleep on is his athleticism,” Robinson told former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky. 

“I think he’s a very athletic quarterback, and he can move out the pocket. He can run. It helps me out a lot because he’ll take a linebacker away, he’ll take a player away.”

While Penix is certainly not what one would consider a pure dual-threat quarterback, such as Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, he is not a statue in the pocket. He’s more straight-line speed than a scrambler, as evidenced by his 4.5 forty in his single attempt at his pro day.

The second-year quarterback can run if he has to, which he showed off in Week 18 against the Carolina Panthers. On third and goal from the five-yard line, Penix felt the pressure in the pocket, escaped to his left, and ran in for a touchdown score.