Inside the strategy of organizing an NFL locker room - ESPN

MICHAEL PENIX JR. knew early on. It was last spring during voluntary organized team activities. The rookie quarterback had just gotten his locker assignment at the Atlanta Falcons facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

Directly to Penix's right was veteran safety Jessie Bates III, an All-Pro who takes notes on two different iPads during film study.

Penix was the Falcons' backup quarterback in 2024 and typically, in practice, would go up against the first-team defense, led by Bates. In one 11-on-11 period last spring, Penix saw Bates break on one of his passes even before the wide receiver.

After practice, while both were changing at their lockers, Penix leaned in and asked Bates what he saw on the play.

«He's like, 'I just saw the receiver looking that way, or a certain technique or the way that we were running the routes,' and just small stuff like that,» Penix said. «Because when he's back there lurking, he's able to do whatever he wants. It is scary for a quarterback.»

It was a valuable learning experience for Penix, a welcome-to-the-league moment before he ever took a regular-season snap. Penix continued to pick Bates' brain throughout the season, and Bates was more than willing to take the promising QB under his wing.

Later, Penix realized that his budding mentor-protégé relationship with Bates was, in part, orchestrated by the coaching staff.

«I feel like [there] might've been some thought into putting me next to him as far as whoever makes the locker room assignments,» Penix said. «So, definitely take advantage of that. Always asking him why he felt like he should have drove on a certain ball.»

There are very few things done by NFL coaching staffs without some form of intention. Locker room geography is something