At No. 8 overall, the Atlanta Falcons shocked everyone.

Their fans. The other 31 teams. You at home. Your grandmother who doesn’t care about football. And, without question, Kirk Cousins.

GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., fresh off signing Cousins to his monster contract in March. With a week to digest, we examine this decision in its totality on the Go Long Show. Co-host Jim Monos, our longtime NFL scout, weighs in with his personnel perspective.

A few words Fontenot shared in a sitdown with Go Long proved prescient. The Falcons GM did say there were viable options in both free agency and the draft. After three years of living in no man’s land, they chose to be ultra-, ultra-aggressive on both fronts. Football-wise, there’s logic to follow even with Penix’s age. Of course, the two quarterbacks must now share a locker room. Every day.

If Hard Knocks existed in its original form, the 2024 Falcons sure would be a compelling team to follow.

How does it all play out? We discuss.

Also on the podcast: Howie Roseman’s love of mock drafts, clapping for your own picks on TV, Monos’ take on the Bills’ double trade-down and Xavier Legette takes his hog hunting to Charlotte.

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Brandon Beane played poker on Day 1, found his wide receiver on Day 2 and sure hopes the Buffalo Bills landed a few more long-term starters throughout the 2024 NFL Draft.

It was an eventful weekend at One Bills Drive.

Go Long has been tracking the direction of this team closely since last December’s three-part series, and wanted to take a moment to assess the state of affairs with the draft now in the books. On Sunday, I examined why Beane’s guts are a positive sign. Buffalo has lacked such cojones when it comes to those Kansas City Chiefs.

Here on the podcast, let’s welcome back Bills beat writer Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News. We analyze why Coleman was the pick at No. 33, how he’ll fit into the offense and — mainly — why there should be some real optimism with the team despite losing so many starters this offseason. There are questions to answer. Beane now hands the baton to Sean McDermott.

Don’t worry non-Bills fans. We’ll get back to the rest of the NFL on the pod, too. Jim Monos rejoins the program soon to review the draft as a whole.

Audio and video is above, and you can also assess this episode on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Thanks, all.

Brandon Beane's message to KC is clear: Bring it on.

Bob McGinn’s nine-part draft series, icymi:

* Part 1, WR/TE: Hall of Fame talent at the top, then (many) questions

* Part 2, OL: Can this 'long-armed Tyrannosaurus Rex' brawl?

* Part 3, QB: Gap between Caleb Williams & Jayden Daniels? Closer than you think...

* Part 4, RB: Like father, like son?

* Part 5, DL: Tale of two very different Texas big men

* Part 6, Edge: Choose your fighter

* Part 7, LB: Save the Linebackers

* Part 8, DB: Film vs. 40 debate rages

* Part 9, ST: New kickoff rule is a game-changer

Caleb Williams has been the presumptive No. 1 overall pick for months. And months. And few have questioned whether or not that should be the case.

Meanwhile, LSU’s Jayden Daniels drew rave reviews from the personnel community in Bob McGinn’s draft series. Scouts would actually take Daniels over 58 percent of the quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall since 2010, including Jared Goff and Kyler Murray.

Friend of the show Conor Orr penned a fantastic read on this year’s QB class at Sports Illustrated and joined the podcast today to explain why Daniels is more talented than most think. He believes the Washington Commanders will be in very good hands.

We also discuss Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and how his career could take off in the right system and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. The hype befuddles us both.

You can listen to this episode above, watch the video below or access the pod at Apple, Spotify or YouTube. Thanks, all.

McGinn’s entire draft series is available to Go Long subscribers.

ICYMI:

* ‘He’s Randall Cunningham:’ Herm Edwards, Daniels’ coach at Arizona State, explains why.

* Why Drake Maye and the New York Giants are a perfect fit

* ‘Weapon:’ Why Jaylen Wright is the best running back in the draft

* Gap between Caleb Williams & Jayden Daniels? Closer than you think...