Isn’t the whole point of automatic first downs to discourage defenses from committing fouls?

Without the automatic first, if you get an offense to 3rd and long you just foul until you get a stop.

I agree with this. It’s ruining football. Want a first down? Simply put your WRs on go routes and toss the ball at them. If a defender touches them, boom, first down and probably a huge yardage gain.

Of course they would, they’d benefit more than anyone from not giving up automatic firsts for it.