What to Make Of the Michael Penix Jr. Conundrum for the Falcons
Atlanta could go address the quarterback room in many different ways this offseason.
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New President of Football Matt Ryan, along with new general manager Ian Cunningham, did not draft Michael Penix Jr. They did not trade for Kirk Cousins. However, they did take jobs where they knew they would be inheriting both quarterbacks.
Early in the offseason, many folks wondered if the Falcons would roll with Cousins for one more year, given how well the team played down the stretch this past season. That will not be the case as Cunnninham reportedly informed Cousins he will be cut from the team on March 11.
So now what in Flowery Branch?
It’s obviously a huge offseason for Penix Jr. Given how loaded the 2027 NFL Draft is at the quarterback position, it’s fair to project next season as a make-or-break season for the former Washington Huskies star, fair or not. The Falcons will likely be a trendy pick to win the NFC South once again, as the franchise looks to host their first playoff game ever inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Over his two seasons in Atlanta, Falcons fans have seen eye-popping darts from the southpaw mixed in with some back-breaking turnovers. It seems hard to imagine anyone, even Ryan or Cunningham, could have a strong lean one way or the other on Penix Jr. going into next season with a new offensive coaching staff.
There has already been some talk about who the Falcons should bring in to either replace or compete with Penix Jr. this offseason. Some analysts have suggested trying to trade for former Georgia Bulldogs star Stetson Bennett, who is currently Matthew Stafford’s backup quarterback in Los Angeles. Others have reported on the scuttlebutt, which centers more on Joe Flacco or Tua Tagovailoa. With no first-round pick in their arsenal in this year’s NFL Draft and only five picks overall, reaching for a quarterback the new Falcons’ brass might like seems unlikely, especially when you take a gander at the names who all could be available in next year’s draft.
If the Falcons’ brass believes that Penix Jr. has shown enough in his 14 games played in the NFL thus far, a player like Flacco makes the most sense to join Atlanta’s quarterback room next season. If they’re on the fence about Penix Jr., Tagovailoa makes more sense as a way to throw more darts at the dartboard if the Miami Dolphins do release the former Alabama star this summer. If neither pans out, well, Atlanta has their 2027 first-round pick to potentially use to take another quarterback in what could be an all-time great draft for teams who need a new signal-caller. In fact, the Falcons have all of their picks in 2027 and 2028 outside of a seventh-rounder in 2027.
As of this writing, Atlanta only has five picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, two of which are sixth and seventh-round selections. Perhaps Cunningham and Ryan stick with their five, or maybe they find interesting ways to accumulate another pick or two by trading back or trading a player on the roster we’re not even thinking about right now for additional picks in this year’s draft.
It’s no secret that the Falcons need to address a few different positions in the 2026 NFL Draft. In no particular order, it would not be a surprise to see Atlanta take a wide receiver, center, defensive tackle, cornerback, and running back with their five selections. If Atlanta is not sold on Penix Jr., couldn’t one argue that taking a flier on a quarterback would not be the worst idea in the world? The Falcons could still address multiple positions of need while still taking a shot on a quarterback in this draft. If Penn State’s Drew Allar or Arkansas’ Taylen Green are available when the Falcons are on the clock in the fourth round, would it not be worth a swing on a quarterback with the physical tools and the size those two former Power 2 quarterbacks possess?
If I were an NFL general manager, I would always lean towards taking a quarterback if I didn’t think I currently have a franchise quarterback on my roster. It’s the most important position in sports, so if you’re Atlanta, why not take a mid-round or later chance on a guy like Allar or Green? If Penix Jr. proves not be the guy this fall, along with an Allar or Green, who cares? You took a couple more swings, and you’ll be in a great spot to swing for a third time in one of the best quarterback drafts in years.
Ultimately, if the Falcons replace Cousins with another veteran like Flacco, I would understand. Penix Jr., to me, has shown enough to see what he can do with this new staff for at least this season. I would also understand it, though, if the Falcons were to take a surprising flier on a high-ceiling, low-floor quarterback in the middle-to-late rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Finding a franchise quarterback is extremely difficult, but the best way to find them is through the NFL Draft. If Atlanta is not sure about Penix Jr., take another quarterback this year. If neither proves to be the answer, take another next year, only this time in the first round. Atlanta should keep taking quarterbacks as long as they’re not sure they have a franchise quarterback.