Training camp is about to turn the Atlanta Falcons’ offseason questions into real decisions, and a few spots already stand out as the ones that could shape the roster. The biggest of them all sits under center, but there are also battles brewing in the secondary and at linebacker.
The quarterback race has been the defining storyline of the Falcons’ offseason, and that won’t change once camp opens. It’s the kind of competition that grabs attention across the league because it involves the sport’s most important position.
Michael Penix Jr. enters the fight coming off his third ACL injury in his football career, and the Falcons’ new regime answered by bringing in Tua Tagovailoa. Penix’s rehab kept him from taking part in some of the team’s drills during minicamp and OTAs, so the real showdown won’t begin until training camp. If Penix is ready, this should be a tight battle, and what happens in camp will likely determine the Week 1 starter.
Penix has started 12 games over his two NFL seasons and is 4-8. The upside is obvious when he lets it rip; his arm talent gives him the ability to attack every area of the field. But accuracy has been a problem, and new coach Kevin Stefanski has made it clear that he values that trait in a quarterback.
Tagovailoa brings a very different profile. After a Pro Bowl year in 2023, Miami handed him a huge contract, but two seasons of injuries and uneven play led the Dolphins to release him and absorb a record $99.2 million in dead cap.
He is a lefty like Penix, but that’s about where the similarities end. Tagovailoa doesn’t have the same raw arm strength, yet he makes up for it with accuracy and anticipation.
That makes this one of the most compelling battles in the league, not just on this roster. The spotlight will be on the two left-handers throughout camp, and the question won’t stop at who wins the job. It’ll also be whether the winner can keep it.
The Falcons also have a major decision to make at cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell.
Terrell is set as the team’s top boundary corner, but the spot next to him is open. Mike Hughes held that role last season and remains a contender.
Avieon Terrell, A.J. Terrell’s brother, was drafted in the second round this year and is right in the mix as well. He brings strong technical skills that should get him on the field early, but at 5-foot-10 and 186 pounds, he may be a better fit as the nickel defender than as a boundary corner.
There’s also a path where all three end up starting, especially with Billy Bowman Jr. considered a doubt for Week 1. In that scenario, Avieon Terrell could slide into the nickel role while Hughes and A.J. Terrell handle the outside spots.
Linebacker is another spot where the Falcons have one starter already set and another job still up for grabs. Divine Deablo is locked into one of the starting linebacker roles, but after Kaden Elliss departed, the other opening is wide open.
The team spent the offseason trying to build more size and athleticism into the room after injuries and depth issues hit the position last year. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich added Christian Harris and Channing Tindall in free agency, then used Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Kendal Daniels and Harold Perkins Jr.
Harris has the early edge after a strong showing at OTAs and minicamp, but he still has to carry that momentum into camp. He posted 101 tackles for the Texans in 2023, then injuries pushed him out of the lineup over the next two seasons.
Perkins is the wild card with pass-rush juice that should appeal to Ulbrich, who likes to blitz his linebackers. After a huge freshman season at LSU, Perkins dealt with injuries and never fully matched that early hype, but the talent is there, and he could find his way onto the field even if he doesn’t win the starting job.
Daniels is more of a development pick, though his build is strikingly similar to Deablo’s. He’s another converted safety with the size and speed to make plays all over the field. Ulbrich likes Deablo, and if Daniels develops the way the staff hopes, there’s a chance the two could eventually share the field.
Tindall may not be the favorite to win the job, but his athleticism gives him a chance to stick as depth in a system that fits his skill set. With so many new faces in the linebacker room, camp could still open the door for someone to force his way into the starting lineup.
With a new regime in place, the Falcons have plenty of players trying to make a strong first impression. These are the battles worth watching as training camp gets underway and the regular season starts to come into view.
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