The Falcons spent this offseason acting like a team with one eye on the present and the other firmly on what comes next.
Atlanta didn’t go hunting for headline-grabbing moves. With limited cap room and a thin stash of draft picks, Ian Cunningham and Matt Ryan worked the edges instead, leaning on low-risk free-agent deals and a draft approach built around six selections in 2026. It was a quiet kind of roster building, but that’s exactly the point: the new regime is trying to keep the board flexible for a much bigger swing later.
Cunningham’s background helps explain the patience. He picked up plenty from Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore and Howie Roseman in Philadelphia, and the Falcons are already benefiting from that long-view style. Even if 2026 doesn’t break the right way, Atlanta has positioned itself to be in a far better spot the following spring.
That’s why 2026 has been framed as a transition season. The Falcons still don’t have a franchise quarterback, and the year is really about seeing whether Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa can become the long-term answer in a setup designed to give both a better shot.
The organization is banking on one of them taking a step forward, but there’s no guarantee that happens. If neither fully grabs the job, the 2027 NFL Draft could be waiting with a much bigger opportunity. That class is expected to be loaded at quarterback, with Arch Manning and Dante Moore among the names at the top, and the Falcons could be in position to benefit.
The appeal of 2027 goes beyond the quarterback board, too. The depth at the position is described as unmatched, and even if Tagovailoa shines in a new environment or Penix settles in, the Falcons would still have the ammunition to go after another passer. Kevin Stefanski could be in line to make that call at some point in 2027, and Atlanta’s draft stock should be in much better shape by then.
At the moment, the Falcons hold six picks in 2027. They moved their sixth-rounder to Kansas City in the Wanya Morris deal and received a seventh-round pick back after sending one to Seattle for Michael Jerrell. On top of that, they’re projected to add three compensatory picks after losing Kaden Elliss, Tyler Allgeier, and Arnold Ebiketie in free agency - a fifth, a sixth, and a seventh.
That would leave Atlanta with nine selections in 2027, nearly doubling the number of picks they had going into 2026.
The financial picture looks just as promising. After extending Drake London and Kyle Pitts, the Falcons are still projected to have about $110 million in cap space next offseason. Some of that money is expected to go toward a Bijan Robinson extension, but there should also be room for a couple of meaningful free-agent additions.
So while 2026 may be the year Atlanta sorts through questions, 2027 is shaping up as the real proving ground.
In Other News...
DeAngelo Hall Sounds Off On Falcons Coaching Reset
Raheem Morris exit still has some lingering aftereffects around Atlanta, and DeAngelo Hall was among those who thought the Falcons might have given their coach another year. Hall said he was disappointed Morris did not get a longer runway after the team finished with a strong stretch to close the season, a run that at least hinted at momentum even though the overall record still fell short of the standard in Atlanta.
The Falcons ended up at 8-9 and out of the playoffs again, which kept the pressure on the organization to make a change. Hall also acknowledged the appeal of Kevin Stefanskis track record in Cleveland, pointing to a coach with clear credibility as the Falcons move into a reset that still leaves plenty of questions about how much of last seasons progress can carry over. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons May Already Be Seeing A Quarterback Gamble Pay Off
Tua Tagovailoas fresh start in Atlanta already has a different feel than the uneasy ending he left behind in Miami. The Dolphins moved on from him earlier this offseason for financial reasons despite his contract and injury history, and the Falcons brought him in on a prove-it deal with the hope that a change of scenery could get him back on track. So far, minicamp has offered reason for optimism, and it has at least put a real spotlight on what the Falcons might have stumbled into with the veteran quarterback.
Michael Penix Jr. remains in the mix as he rehabs a torn ACL and works toward being cleared for full contact by training camp, but Tagovailoas early returns have only sharpened the conversation around Atlantas quarterback room. There is also a football fit to consider, with the Falcons built around timing and accuracy and a supporting cast that should give any passer help, while Miami is trying to move forward with Malik Willis and a less convincing setup around him. For now, the gamble looks like it could be paying off quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Bijan Robinson Is Already A Star But Falcons Fans See One Debate
Bijan Robinson has already done enough in three NFL seasons to look like one of the leagues premier running backs, and Falcons fans have plenty to appreciate as he heads into Year 4. His production has climbed in both the run and pass game, he earned a Pro Bowl nod in his second season and he led the league in scrimmage yards last year, giving Atlanta a centerpiece who can shape an offense in multiple ways.
Still, the conversation around Robinson is not just about how dynamic he is, but how complete he can become. Ball security and touchdown production have become part of the debate as he prepares for a season with a new coaching staff, and with a major extension looming, the margin for those details only gets smaller. For a player already viewed as a star, the next step may be less about proving his talent and more about answering the one question fans keep circling. [Read more 🡒]