The Atlanta Falcons are staring down a pivotal offseason, and the biggest domino yet to fall is the future of head coach Raheem Morris. After two seasons at the helm, the question is simple: will the Falcons stick with Morris, or hit the reset button once again?
Last week’s upset win over the Buccaneers may have nudged the needle slightly in Morris' favor, but it’s far from a done deal. The Falcons are still trying to shake off another disappointing season, and ownership has some serious soul-searching to do. If the front office decides to move on, the next question becomes: how attractive is this job to the top coaching candidates?
According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, not very.
Barnwell ranked eight teams that could be in the market for a new head coach this offseason-the Falcons, Giants, Raiders, Titans, Cardinals, Dolphins, Browns, and Bengals. Of those eight, he slotted Atlanta sixth, ahead of only the Dolphins and Raiders. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that, despite its flaws, has a lot going for it.
Barnwell pointed to two key knocks against the Falcons: limited salary cap space and a lack of 2026 draft capital. But those issues might not be as dire as they seem on the surface.
For starters, the cap situation can be cleaned up quickly. Releasing veterans like Kirk Cousins and Darnell Mooney would free up significant room, giving the Falcons some immediate flexibility. That’s not speculation-it’s a standard offseason move in today’s NFL when teams need to recalibrate financially.
As for the missing first-round pick in 2026, that’s a sunk cost. But let’s not forget what came out of that trade: James Pearce Jr. and Xavier Watts, two young players who already look like foundational pieces. That’s not a bad return if you’re trying to build a winning roster.
And speaking of the roster, there’s real talent here. Bijan Robinson is a game-changer in the backfield.
Drake London and Kyle Pitts (assuming he’s franchise tagged) give you two dynamic weapons in the passing game. The offensive line is solid, and the defense has playmakers at every level.
This isn’t a team starting from scratch-it’s a team that, with the right leadership and quarterback stability, could be competing for a playoff spot next season.
That brings us to the one big question mark: quarterback. What do the Falcons really have in Michael Penix Jr.?
Penix is undeniably talented. He’s got the arm to make every throw and the poise to lead an NFL offense.
But health remains a concern. He may not be ready for the start of next season, and even when he returns, can he stay on the field?
That uncertainty clouds the picture, but it’s not unique to Atlanta.
Look at the teams Barnwell ranked ahead of the Falcons: the Bengals, Cardinals, Browns, Titans, and Giants. Outside of Cincinnati, are any of those teams in a better quarterback situation?
The Cardinals are still banking on Kyler Murray returning to form. The Browns are tied to Deshaun Watson, whose availability and effectiveness are still in question.
The Titans and Giants have more questions than answers under center. So if we’re talking about QB outlook, it’s hard to argue that Atlanta is clearly worse off than most of that group.
The truth is, this Falcons job might be more appealing than it’s getting credit for. Yes, the quarterback situation is uncertain.
But the rest of the roster is built to compete. There’s a strong core in place, and the right head coach could step in and immediately push this team into playoff contention.
Atlanta might not be the flashiest destination on paper, but it’s far from a bottom-tier job. For a coach looking to make an impact quickly-with a young, talented roster and a front office that’s shown a willingness to be aggressive-this could be one of the most intriguing opportunities of the offseason.