Who will Kevin Stefanski want at quarterback for the Falcons?

A couple of big dominos have already fallen since the Falcons’ 2025 campaign came to an end. Matt Ryan has taken over as President of Football, and Kevin Stefanski has been named the team’s next head coach. Atlanta has still yet to replace Terry Fontenot as general manager, but that announcement is likely coming sooner rather than later.

Together, those three will be tasked with answering the offseason’s most glaring issue — what are the Falcons going to do at quarterback?

The Michael Penix Dilemma

The situation surrounding Michael Penix Jr. is a difficult one to figure out. He was the 8th overall pick just two years ago and was handed the full-time starting job this season. But his play left a lot to be desired, throwing for just 1,982 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games. He did have only three interceptions, but a deeper look at the tape would suggest he got very lucky that number wasn’t at least double — and perhaps even more worrisome is the injury history.

Penix is not likely to be ready for Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL. It’s already the third ACL tear of his career dating back to his college days, to go along with two significant shoulder injuries. Add in the fact that this new regime played no part in drafting him, and it’s reasonable to expect the Falcons to consider all of their options this offseason.

Could Kirk Cousins Return?

If you listen to the national media talk about the Falcons, you’d think Kirk Cousins is a slam dunk to be on the roster in 2026. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. The two sides already renegotiated his deal this offseason in a way that essentially guarantees Cousins will be a free agent in a couple of months.

Now, theoretically, the Falcons could re-sign Cousins. He does have a relationship with Kevin Stefanski dating back to their time with the Vikings, but does Cousins really want to return to a quarterback room where he’s going to be asked to compete with Penix again? It’s possible, but it’s probably best for all parties to move on.

Potential Free Agents

This list of quarterbacks set to hit free agency is — well, uninspiring, to say the least.

• Daniel Jones
• Aaron Rodgers
• Russell Wilson
• Marcus Mariota
• Joe Flacco
• Russell Wilson
• Malik Willis

—

Daniel Jones is coming off a late-season Achilles injury, so he’s not really an option for a team looking for a Week 1 starter, and Aaron Rodgers very well could retire. Those are really the only proven starting-caliber quarterbacks available in free agency, but one name to watch could be Malik Willis.

His performance in reserve work behind Jordan Love has been very impressive over the last two seasons. In three starts, he’s led the Packers to a 2–1 record, averaging over 300 passing yards per game with six touchdowns and no interceptions.

Mac Jones

Given this year’s free-agent class and the Falcons’ lack of a first-round pick due to the James Pearce Jr. trade, the most logical solution to their quarterback dilemma is Mac Jones — and I’m not sure it’s particularly close.

Jones signed a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers last offseason to back up Brock Purdy. The plan was never for him to see much of the field, but Purdy’s health forced Jones into eight starts. In those games, he led San Francisco to a 5–3 record, throwing for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns against six interceptions. He finished the season completing 69.6% of his passes with a 97.2 passer rating and a 62.9 QBR. Jones was a very good NFL quarterback, and he did it while the 49ers were without most of their top offensive weapons.

In Kevin Stefanski’s offense, Jones could experience a similar revival to what we’ve seen recently from Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and even Daniel Jones earlier this season before his injury. The contract is also extremely attractive, as he carries a cap hit of less than $4 million in 2026. That would allow the Falcons to bring him in, let him compete with Penix, and then make a decision on the two at the end of next season.

The only real negative in this scenario is the draft capital it would require to acquire Jones in a trade. There will likely be several interested teams, and the 49ers won’t be eager to part ways with a backup of his caliber given Purdy’s injury history. It’s probably going to take at least a mid-round pick, which is reasonable for a team with a full allotment of draft picks. Unfortunately, the Falcons do not have that luxury, holding just five picks in the upcoming draft.

Still, without stability at quarterback, this organization will continue to spin its tires. Jones offers a competent option capable of leading the Falcons to an NFC South title, with some upside of potentially being the team’s long-term answer at the position.

—

Photo: Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire

The post Who will Kevin Stefanski want at quarterback for the Falcons? appeared first on SportsTalkATL.com.