The Atlanta Falcons are about to get a much clearer picture of where things stand when training camp opens in a little less than three weeks. With 12 practices open to the media between late July and most of August, plus two joint sessions with the Indianapolis Colts before the second preseason game, there will be plenty of chances to see how the Kevin Stefanski era starts taking shape in Atlanta.
The biggest headline remains the quarterback battle between Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa, and that alone gives camp a chance to get messy in a hurry. But the QB competition isn’t the only spot that could turn into a daily source of intrigue. These three players are positioned to create the most chaos once July 29 arrives.
Michael Penix Jr. is the obvious one. The offseason buzz has pointed toward Tagovailoa as Atlanta’s Week 1 starter against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Penix is still very much in the mix. That’s especially true because his ACL recovery has moved faster than expected.
Penix suffered a partially-torn ACL in Week 11 in mid-November, then began throwing in March, just three months after surgery. He got all the way to 7-on-7 work during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, though he still hasn’t been cleared for full contact. That part is expected to change soon.
He’s projected to be cleared for 11-on-11 work either right at the start of camp or very early in it, and if that happens, the quarterback battle opens back up in a big way. There’s even a path where the 2024 first-rounder wins the job, simply because of how much the franchise has invested in him. If he’s healthy, he’s going to stir things up.
Kendal Daniels is another name to watch for a very different reason. The fourth-round rookie has missed most of the offseason because of an undisclosed injury, but once he gets back on the field, he could quickly become a factor on defense.
Camp was supposed to create a real fight for the second starting linebacker job next to Divine Deablo. Instead, Christian Harris used Daniels’ absence to move ahead.
Still, once Daniels is healthy, Jeff Ulbrich is expected to be drawn to what he brings athletically. At 6-foot-5 and 242 pounds, the safety convert has the kind of frame and movement skills that make him a strong fit alongside Deablo.
Then there’s Sydney Brown, who feels like the kind of player who can force the issue if given enough reps. Ian Cunningham didn’t trade for Brown just to keep him on the sideline, and Ulbrich clearly sees something to work with after Brown stood out during OTAs.
Brown has the kind of versatility that makes him easy to plug into different spots, and Falcons fans have every reason to be interested. The fourth-year safety was a third-round pick in 2023, and he enters a contract year with a chance to show what he can do.
With Billy Bowman Jr. still sidelined, Brown should get a look both in the nickel and as the team’s third safety in 2026. That kind of role, paired with his athleticism, gives him a real chance to make camp competitive.
In Other News...
Falcons QB Battle Just Took A Tense Turn Before Camp
The Falcons quarterback picture has already taken on a sharper edge before training camp even opens, with the team set to stage an open competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix. Tagovailoa arrived in Atlanta on a one-year deal after being released by Miami, and the move immediately put one of the leagues most watched quarterback situations back in the spotlight for a franchise that has been searching for stability since Matt Ryans departure.
Patrick Paul, who spent time with Tagovailoa in Miami, added another layer to the conversation by saying he expects Tagovailoa to come out on top. It is a confident prediction for a player coming off a difficult season, and it only heightens the pressure around a camp battle that already feels like it could shape the direction of Atlantas offense well beyond August. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Rankings Just Exposed The Falcons Biggest Roster Problem
ESPNs annual position rankings offered a familiar snapshot of where the Falcons have been strongest, and where they still have work to do. Atlanta landed several players near the top at non-premium spots, with Bijan Robinson leading the running back group, Chris Lindstrom again rating among the leagues best interior linemen and Kyle Pitts sliding back into the top 10 at tight end. Jake Matthews and A.J. Terrell only drew honorable mention, but the broader picture was clear: the Falcons can point to real talent, just not always at the spots that most shape games in the modern NFL.
That imbalance has been part of the story behind Atlantas recent losing records, because the roster has often been built around quality at positions that matter less than quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, edge rusher and cornerback. Terry Fontenot tried late to patch those holes, including the selection of Michael Penix Jr. and edge rushers, and the front office has since shifted under Ian Cunningham, who has started leaning harder into premium positions with his early draft picks. The rankings only sharpen that conversation, especially with some of the most important spots still waiting for the Falcons to prove they can match their best non-premium talent. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Rookie Is Already Creating Serious Buzz Before Training Camp
Harold Perkins Jr. is already drawing attention in Atlanta before he ever puts on pads for his first NFL training camp. The Falcons used a sixth-round pick on the LSU linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the early buzz around him has only grown as he spends the offseason training with former Georgia Bulldogs pass-rush specialist Marcus Howard.
For a defense looking for help under coach Jeff Ulbrich, Perkins offers the kind of upside that can make a late-round selection feel much bigger than it looks on paper. Atlanta is optimistic about what he might become, and now the real question is how quickly that offseason momentum carries over once camp opens and the competition turns live. [Read more 🡒]