The Falcons are stepping into a pivotal offseason, and the biggest storyline swirling around Flowery Branch is clear: what’s the plan at quarterback?
Michael Penix Jr. is saying all the right things. He expects to be ready for Week 1, and that’s exactly the mindset you want from your young signal-caller.
But let’s be honest - expecting and guaranteeing are two very different things in the NFL. Especially when you're talking about a player still working his way back from injury.
Penix, the former No. 8 overall pick, is now the centerpiece of a quarterback room that’s under a new regime - one that didn’t draft him. That matters. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and newly hired offensive coordinator Tommy Rees have inherited a talented but still-developing quarterback, and while Stefanski has spoken positively about Penix’s progress, the real evaluation begins once the new general manager is in place.
“I think we have to hire a general manager first, before I can give you a great answer there,” Stefanski said when asked about the team’s quarterback direction. That’s not dodging the question - it’s just the reality. The Falcons’ front office is still taking shape, and until the GM chair is filled, major roster decisions are on hold.
Still, Stefanski’s comments give us a glimpse into how the organization views Penix. “Michael is a young player that I think very highly of,” he said. “He’s rehabbing off his injury, he’s doing great, he’s doing everything he’s supposed to be doing right now, which is the number one thing for him, is to get healthy.”
That’s the first step. The next? Figuring out who’s going to be in that quarterback room with him.
One name that’s already being floated is Kirk Cousins. And it’s not just idle chatter - Stefanski and Cousins go way back to their days in Minnesota.
The mutual respect is there. Stefanski didn’t shy away from acknowledging it either: “Kirk, obviously, a relationship there, he’s somebody that I think very highly of on and off the field.”
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. That connection doesn’t guarantee anything.
Cousins is heading for free agency after restructuring his deal with the Falcons - a move that all but ensures he’ll test the open market. And make no mistake, Cousins still sees himself as a starting quarterback.
He’s not looking to hold a clipboard.
In Atlanta, nothing would be promised. Even if he did return, it would likely be as insurance behind Penix, not as the Week 1 starter. That’s a tough sell for a veteran with Cousins’ résumé and mindset.
Could things change? Absolutely.
If Penix suffers a setback during the offseason or isn’t ready to go when training camp rolls around, the Falcons may need to pivot. In that scenario, a steady hand like Cousins could suddenly become a priority.
But as things stand right now, a reunion feels like a long shot.
The Falcons are in the early stages of reshaping their identity under Stefanski and whoever steps in as general manager. The quarterback decision will define this offseason - and potentially the next several years.
Penix is in the mix, no question. But the full picture won’t come into focus until the front office is complete and the team starts mapping out its long-term strategy.
For now, the only certainty is uncertainty. And in the NFL, that’s often where the most important decisions are made.