NFL.com’s latest seven-round “win-now” mock draft put a strange little spotlight on the Falcons’ quarterback room: Atlanta came away with only one quarterback selection, and it was Michael Penix Jr. in the third round.
That leaves Tua Tagovailoa sitting on the outside of the exercise entirely. He wasn’t picked at all, even though the Falcons are expected to hold an open quarterback competition.
Penix is still working back from ACL surgery and is expected to be ready for training camp in late July, which keeps Tagovailoa in line as the default starter for now. But nothing about his spot feels locked in.
His veteran minimum deal is one of the cheapest contracts on Atlanta’s 90-man roster.
The setup makes the stakes pretty clear. If Tagovailoa puts together a big season, he can push his way back into the conversation as one of the league’s better quarterbacks. If Penix wins the job, Tagovailoa’s value drops to its lowest point.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter explained the Penix pick this way: "I'll give the Falcons' new brain trust of head coach Kevin Stefanski, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt a chance to help the talented (and hopefully healthy) Penix take a big step forward in 2026," wrote NFL.com's Chad Reuter.
Penix wasn’t the only Falcon to show up in the mock. Drake London nearly landed with Atlanta, but instead went to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 78 overall, one spot before the Falcons were on the clock for Penix.
"Boasting the ability to box out slot defenders and get the better of outside corners, London is a worthy pick at No. 78 overall," Retuer wrote about the Colts' hypothetical selection of London.
Bijan Robinson was the Falcons’ lone first-round selection in the mock, with the Green Bay Packers taking him 20th overall. Reuter pointed to Robinson’s production at age 23, noting, "Green Bay can't pass up Robinson, who just led the league in total yards from scrimmage (2,298) at age 23," explained Reuter.
Kyle Pitts also landed in a spot that would sting Atlanta fans, going to the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round. Pitts recently signed a three-year, $54 million extension, but in Reuter’s scenario he stays in the NFC South and gives Bryce Young another big target.
"Pitts takes some pressure off Jaxon Smith-Njigba in this hypothetical world, keeping safeties on their toes looking for seam routes or late wheels from the towering playmaker."
Atlanta still did fine for itself in the exercise, with the Falcons landing Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett in Round 1 and also adding Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams and Jacksonville Jaguars CB/WR Travis Hunter.
For now, though, the whole thing stays in the realm of the hypothetical. Training camp is close enough that the Falcons won’t have to live in mock-draft world for much longer.
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