Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll handed on three first-round quarterbacks with the No. 6 total choose final April.
Bo Nix, the Denver Broncos’ twelfth total choose, is about to complete because the runner-up for Offensive Rookie of the 12 months.
J.J. McCarthy, the Minnesota Vikings’ tenth total choose, tore his knee earlier than he may ship on the promise of an encouraging coaching camp.
And Michael Penix Jr., the Atlanta Falcons’ eighth total choose, has been biding his time on the bench.
Till now.
Till Falcons coach Raheem Morris declared Penix Jr. Sunday’s starter and, within the course of, added one other attainable nightmare chapter to this worst-case state of affairs season for Schoen, Daboll and the Giants (2-12).
“He’s a talented, talented kid,” Drew Lock, the Giants’ projected beginning quarterback for Sunday, mentioned on Wednesday contained in the Giants’ locker room. “Definitely can push the ball downfield like the best of them … Best of luck to him – just can’t say that this week.”
No, Lock doesn’t need Penix to go off in his first profession NFL begin. So think about how Schoen and Daboll really feel, with their jobs already deservedly in jeopardy if not already forfeit as soon as this catastrophe season involves an finish.
If Penix performs effectively and the Falcons (7-7) hand the Giants a file tenth straight loss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it can shatter the argument that Schoen and Daboll by no means had an opportunity to draft their very own quarterback to items.
An argument that’s already lifeless and on show for all to see as Sean Payton and Nix lead the Broncos to a playoff berth – whereas the Giants’ Week 1 starter, Daniel Jones, is on the Minnesota Vikings and Daboll runs the worst offense within the NFL (14.9 factors per recreation).
Schoen and Daboll selected huge receiver Malik Nabers at No. 6 total as a substitute of taking a QB.
Nabers has put up some spectacular rookie receiving numbers however hasn’t made a distinction to the groups’ backside line. The LSU product, although, mentioned he has loads of respect for Penix, who led the College of Washington to the nationwide championship recreation earlier than dropping to Michigan final season.
“Gunslinger,” Nabers mentioned. “Has a pretty deep ball. He’s going to give his guys chances on a lot of deep ball passes. He’s a great player.”
The Falcons are a multitude. They stink. That total group has so much to reply for after passing over Invoice Belichick within the final hiring cycle for Raheem Morris.
However they nonetheless opened in Vegas as 10.5-point favorites over the Giants. And even after benching Kirk Cousins and giving Penix Jr. his first-ever NFL begin, they’re nonetheless favored by 7.5 over New York.
“He’s a very productive player,” Daboll mentioned of Penix Jr., whom he scouted intently pre-draft final spring. “He could throw it in all three levels. Very accurate. Obviously had a lot of good players around him. But I thought he really gave those guys chances down the field.
“Intermediate throws, threw the ball effortlessly,” the coach added. “Was athletic. I wouldn’t say they used him on a lot of runs, more of a drop-back, play-action guy. But fairly athletic enough to do a variety of things. Met with him, had a good meeting. Smart. Instinctive. I thought he had a pretty good pro day, I was at his pro day. So I thought he was a good prospect.”
Lock, who used to play for the Seattle Seahawks shut by the College of Washington, mentioned Penix Jr. was a star in faculty and has earned this chance.
“Being in Washington when he was up there doing his thing, being in Seattle — it was fun to go to those Dawgs games from what I heard,” Lock mentioned. “There was a lot of buzz up there about him. He’s a great player. He deserved that buzz, and he’s getting his shot now.”
Sadly for Schoen and Daboll, it’s coming in opposition to their Giants head-to-head.
And if the Giants in some way magically produce a win to bolster their passing on Penix Jr., that might nonetheless be a dropping proposition as a result of it could price them subsequent yr’s No. 1 total choose.
GIANTS LIST 21 INJURED
5 Giants gamers didn’t observe on Wednesday, 14 have been listed as restricted and two have been full contributors on a monstrous, 21-person damage report for Week 16.
Edge rushers Brian Burns (ankle/neck) and Patrick Johnson (knee), linebacker Bobby Okereke (again), guard Aaron Stinnie (concussion) and nook Greg Stroman (shoulder/shin) didn’t observe.
The restricted gamers included corners Deonte Banks (rib), Cor’Dale Flott (quad), Artwork Inexperienced (shoulder) and Dru Phillips (shoulder); huge receivers Malik Nabers (knee/foot) and Wan’Dale Robinson (shoulder); middle John Michael Schmitz (ankle); quarterbacks Lock (heel/left elbow) and Tommy DeVito (concussion); defensive linemen Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck/shoulder) and Cory Durden (shoulder); operating again Tyrone Tracy Jr. (ankle); security Dane Belton (knee) and tight finish Chris Manhertz (ankle).
Linebacker Dyontae Johnson (ankle) and lineman Austin Schlottmann (fibula) have been each full contributors of their 21-day observe window to make a return from injured reserve.
