Ian Cunningham’s first offseason in Atlanta has already left Falcons fans with more questions than answers, and the biggest one sits right at the top of the depth chart.
With Week 1 only two days away, the early excitement around Cunningham and Kevin Stefanski has given way to a more uneasy feeling. The Falcons are not in full-on panic mode, but after their first 53-man roster of this new era came together, plenty of the choices looked unusual enough to make the fan base pause.
Atlanta kept four quarterbacks, a move Cunningham called “a little bit of an insurance policy,” while pointing to the injury histories and performances of Penix and Tagovailoa. That decision only sharpened the uncertainty around the most important spot on the roster, especially after the Falcons named Tua Tagovailoa as their Week 1 starter over Michael Penix Jr.
The roster also featured some head-turning cuts. Atlanta moved on from players such as Tyler Goodson and Azeez Ojulari, and Zach Harrison was another surprise departure before eventually making his way back to the practice squad. From the outside, it all adds up to a roster that is still hard to pin down.
Still, Cunningham’s first months haven’t been a bust by any stretch. There’s real evidence he’s already put his stamp on the team in ways that could age well.
The Falcons brought in defensive tackle Gervon Dexter in a trade with the Chicago Bears, another addition to a busy stretch of deal-making that also included Maason Smith, Wanya Morris and Sydney Brown, while Ruke Orhorhoro was sent away. On the waiver wire, Atlanta also came away with linebacker Yasir Abdullah, defensive lineman Jared Ivey and offensive tackle Cameron Williams.
Even the Harrison situation is more layered than a simple mistake. Atlanta waived him after making other additions, but he cleared waivers and landed back on the practice squad. Cunningham also reportedly had a strong relationship with Harrison dating back to his first months in Atlanta, which made that call tougher inside the building.
So the verdict isn’t ready yet. If Penix or Tagovailoa settles the offense and the Falcons start stacking wins, Cunningham’s odd-looking roster choices will suddenly seem a lot more defensible. If the quarterback spot keeps wobbling, though, every one of these decisions is going to get dragged back into the conversation.
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Falcons Safety Depth Suddenly Hinges On A Player Fans Barely Know
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Hellams made the 53-man roster for the 2025 season, and his role has grown as Atlanta has asked him to handle more responsibility. He has shown better discipline, and with a starter sidelined by injury, he even picked up first-team reps. For a player fans may still mostly know from the margins, the question now is whether this recent stretch is the beginning of something more substantial. [Read more 🡒]