NFL insider has bold report on Falcons QB situation

Now that the Falcons’ new regime is in place, the single most important issue they face — both now and in the future — is finding a franchise quarterback. It’s impossible to win without one, and the Falcons have found that out the hard way since they ironically traded Matt Ryan prior to the 2022 campaign.

It’s very possible Michael Penix Jr. is that guy. At times, he looked the part in his first season as the team’s starting quarterback, flashing one of the most impressive arms in the sport with incredible accuracy down the field. Then there were times when he looked like a guy with fewer than 10 starts under his belt, unable to get through his progressions and missing the layups that allow the offense to get into rhythm.

Penix has plenty he needs to work on. His accuracy on short to intermediate throws was horrendous. He seemed to lack the willingness to throw over the middle of the field, likely because he didn’t trust his accuracy, and he must learn to feel comfortable playing from under center. None of that is necessarily uncommon for an inexperienced quarterback in the National Football League, but the one issue Atlanta might not be able to overlook — even this early in his career — is his injury history.

Penix was a walking red flag coming into the draft in that department, suffering multiple ACL and shoulder injuries in college. Now, he’s coming off yet another ACL injury in just his second season, and his availability for Week 1 is in serious jeopardy.

With Cousins set to be released in the coming weeks, the Falcons were going to be in the quarterback market regardless. The question is what level of quarterback they would target. Are they looking for a guy who can hold the clipboard behind Penix, or perhaps someone who could push for the job and take the team to the next level?

According to NFL insider Jason La Canfora, it’s going to be someone they believe can help them win games immediately.

“It’s not just going to be a warm body, veteran-minimum type guy, I can promise you that,” said one source.

“There are some definite concerns there about Penix taking the next step on several levels. It’s been a lot worse there than people really know.”

This is the first time someone has really come out and reported that the Falcons have serious concerns about Penix’s future, and La Canfora didn’t stop there with his sources.

“Atlanta is looking for a starting quarterback, I know that much,” a general manager of a team also in the market for a quarterback said. “We are definitely looking at them as competition. I think they’re going to be in on everything. It’s not good there with Penix.”

Now, whether you believe La Canfora’s sources is up to your discretion. However, the facts are this: Penix is currently a bottom-ten quarterback in the NFL, he might not be ready for Week 1, has serious injury concerns moving forward, and this new regime had nothing to do with drafting him.

It’s possible the Falcons roll with Michael Penix Jr. in 2026 because they don’t love any of the options available to them. It’s not like there are a bunch of franchise quarterbacks available on the open market each offseason, and Atlanta doesn’t even own a first-round pick. But it makes a lot of sense for them to evaluate every single option at the position until they get it right.

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Photo: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire

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