The Falcons are only one game into the 2026 season, but the quarterback conversation is already looming over everything. With Atlanta sitting at 0-1 after a 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the biggest question is whether the team will eventually get steady play under center as the year unfolds.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski has gone with Cooper Rush for now, and Rush threw two interceptions in the loss. Michael Penix Jr., now in his third year, is working back from injury, while Tua Tagovailoa is also recovering from an abdominal strain.
That leaves the door open for undrafted rookie Jack Strand, though that would only solve things in the short term. The real issue is whether Penix can get healthy, stay on the field and prove he’s Atlanta’s franchise quarterback.
That uncertainty is why quarterback sits at the top of the Falcons’ 2027 draft needs. If the season ended today, Atlanta would be picking No. 5 overall, putting it squarely in range for one of the top passers in the class.
Even with talent on both sides of the ball, the long-term answer at quarterback remains the biggest swing point for the roster. Other needs include WR2 alongside Drake London and help in the trenches on both sides.
In this four-round projection, the Falcons start with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore at No. 5.
Moore’s stock is tied closely to how Penix performs and holds up over the season, but if Penix keeps battling injuries, Moore looks like a clean fit. He took a hit to his No. 1 overall buzz in a loss to Oklahoma State, but the arm talent and poise are there, and Atlanta would be handing him plenty of help.
A group featuring London, Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts Jr., Zachariah Branch and Moore would be loaded on paper. Stefanski’s offense also fits Moore’s strengths, especially the intermediate game off play-action.
At No. 36, the Falcons add another weapon in Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff. Atlanta is currently counting on Jahan Dotson to handle the WR2 job, but Duff gives them a more intriguing long-term answer.
He’s been productive despite Rutgers’ 0-2 start, putting up 17 catches for 333 yards and five touchdowns through two games. At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, he brings size, catch radius and downfield playmaking that could pair beautifully with London.
The next pick, No. 67 overall, goes to Minnesota defensive lineman Anthony Smith. Atlanta has veterans on the line in Gervon Dexter Sr., Za’Darius Smith and Da’Shawn Hand, but it still needs more juice up front.
The hope is that Brandon Dorlus and/or Masson Smith develops into a real impact piece, and Anthony Smith would add another young body to the mix. At 6-foot-6 and 280 pounds, he can rush from the edge, move inside to generate pressure and hold up against the run.
In the fourth round, the Falcons address the offensive line with Ohio State tackle Ian Moore at No. 103.
Kaleb McGary’s sudden retirement left a hole, and while Jawaan Taylor is in the mix on a one-year deal, Moore would give Atlanta a younger and cheaper option. He’s listed at 6-foot-6, 315 pounds and is currently Ohio State’s left tackle.
The Falcons could compete him for the right tackle job in 2027 while also grooming him as a possible successor to Jake Matthews, who will be 35 in 2027.
The bigger picture is clear: this mock is built around finally settling the quarterback spot. Taking Moore just a few drafts after spending No. 8 overall on Penix Jr. would naturally spark questions about Atlanta’s previous investment, especially with Kirk Cousins also signed to a big contract that same offseason. Still, the players in this projection would give the Falcons youth and talent at several important spots, with the quarterback decision still sitting at the center of it all.
In Other News...
Michael Penix Jr Puts Falcons Quarterback Decision Back In Play
Michael Penix Jr. was back as a full participant in practice this week, a notable step for a Falcons quarterback still working through recovery and one that immediately brings the position conversation back into focus. Atlanta had Penix sharing reps with Cooper Rush, a reminder that the quarterback room is very much in motion as the Falcons keep sorting out how they want to handle the position going forward.
The timing matters in a division where every team is watching the margin for error. Across the NFC South, Todd Bowles has already made it clear Baker Mayfield has to be sharper with the football, while Carolina is making roster moves of its own, waiving cornerback Jimmy Horn to open a spot for linebacker Tyrel Dodson. For Atlanta, though, the bigger picture is simpler: Penixs return to full work is putting the Falcons quarterback decision right back in play. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Newton Just Entered The Falcons Quarterback Conversation
Cam Newton resurfaced in the Falcons quarterback conversation this week by making a public case that he could still help an NFL team, even after not playing since 2021. The former Panthers star, who will be Hall of Fame eligible next year, also took aim at Atlantas recent quarterback decisions while noting that no team has reached out to him, despite the occasional fan push to bring him back.
For the Falcons, it is the kind of noise that follows any team still trying to settle its long-term answer under center. Newton said he understands a return is unlikely, but he made clear he would at least welcome the chance to be asked, drawing a contrast with other retired quarterbacks who have found their way back onto the field. For now, it is more a reminder of Atlantas ongoing search than a true sign of movement, but Newtons name has a way of keeping the discussion alive. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Suddenly Face A Bigger A.J. Terrell Question Than Expected
A.J. Terrell entered the 2026 season as one of the most trusted pieces of Atlantas defense, but the early returns have made his spot under a brighter light than the Falcons probably expected. In Week 1 against the Steelers, he had a rough afternoon in coverage, with multiple catches allowed and penalties adding to the frustration, and Pro Football Focus had him graded near the bottom among qualified cornerbacks for the game.
Even with those concerns about both health and performance, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has continued to speak in unmistakably strong terms about Terrell, publicly calling him the best boundary corner in the NFL. For Atlanta, that creates a real crossroads: the Falcons still need Terrell to look like a shutdown player, but now they have to balance confidence in his track record against the possibility that the decline is more than just a one-game blip. [Read more 🡒]