In any case, according to insider Will Fadden, the coach stated that Penix is “right where he needs to be” in his recovery. This is extremely positive for the team.

At a time when teams are starting to reveal their first moves, the battle for the QB1 spot in Atlanta is still uncertain. So far, everything indicates that Tua might be the starter, although there is still plenty of time before the season begins.

What injury did Penix Jr. suffer?

Michael Penix Jr. is currently recovering from a partially torn ACL in his left knee suffered during Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season against the Carolina Panthers. This latest injury is particularly significant because it is the third ACL tear of his career and his first major injury at the professional level.

Bijan Robinson is ready for his QBs

Even amid the uncertainty about who will start as the Falcons’ quarterback, the rest of the players must adapt quickly. Bijan Robinson made it clear that he will give his all for his team.

“Like I say every year, I am just trying to be better than the last year, in all aspects of my game,” Robinson said via the team’s website. “My leadership, my faith, everything, who I am as a person. I am just trying to be a lot better than I was the year before, even when it comes to my goals on the field, off the field.”

Falcons are already thinking about the Draft

Kevin Stefanski’s Falcons will be absent from the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft due to a major trade made during the previous year’s event. In a move to bolster their pass rush, the front office traded their 2026 first-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the opportunity to move up and select edge rusher James Pearce Jr.

This gamble has left the team with limited draft capital this year, forcing the Falcons current management make an aggressive strategy to navigate the roster-building process without a Day 1 selection:

• 2nd round: Pick 48
• 3rd round: Pick 79
• 4th round: Pick 122
• 6th round: Pick 215
• 7th round: Pick 231

Changes are coming rapidly to Atlanta. The recent signing of Tua Tagovailoa has set the stage for a high-stakes quarterback competition, and the front office appears determined to build a versatile, high-powered offense around its new signal-caller.

By signing his franchise tender, Pitts becomes one of the league’s top earners at his position for the 2026 season—surpassing the annual averages of players like Isaiah Likely and Travis Kelce. With Pitts under contract, General Manager Ian Cunningham is now pivoting his focus to the NFL Draft as the primary vehicle for long-term roster improvement.

“For us, it’s one of those things where we have to go into this thinking we only have five picks. That’s worst case,” Cunningham said, via the team’s website. “If we come out of it with just five picks, we come out of it with just five picks. We are already looking at different ways to potentially manufacture some more. But if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.”

The Falcons’ quarterback dilemma

Since the departure of Matt Ryan, the Falcons have struggled to find a long-term solution under center. While the team has made several attempts to secure a “franchise” successor, those efforts have yet to yield a deep playoff run.

Following the exit of Kirk Cousins earlier this offseason, many expected 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. to serve as the undisputed QB1. However, the arrival of Tua Tagovailoa—who joined Atlanta on a one-year, $1.3 million “prove-it” deal after being released by the Dolphins—has complicated the depth chart.

As of today, Tagovailoa is the projected Week 1 starter for head coach Kevin Stefanski, as Penix Jr. continues to rehab a partially torn left ACL sustained late last season. While the team is exploring upgrades at several positions, the battle for the starting quarterback role remains the most intriguing storyline heading into the summer.

The top five highest-paid players in 2026 is rounded out by Dalton Schultz of the Houston Texans and George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers. With his signing, Pitts continues to be the key bet in the Falcons‘ offense.

• Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons) – $15,045,000
• Isaiah Likely (New York Giants) – $14,500,000
• Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans) – $13,100,000
• George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) – $12,900,000
• Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs) – $12,000,000

The numbers that support Pitts’ franchise tag

In the 2025 NFL season, Kyle Pitts enjoyed a productive campaign with the Atlanta Falcons, appearing in all 17 games. He recorded 88 receptions on 118 targets for 928 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the most consistent targets in the team’s passing attack.

Pitts’ contractual future

Although Kyle Pitts has already signed his tender to begin offseason training, both he and the Falcons have until the July 15, 2026 deadline to agree on a multi-year extension. If no long-term deal is reached by that date, he will play the upcoming season under the one-year franchise tag before potentially hitting free agency next year.

A season with great tight ends

The 2026 NFL season is shaping up to be a massive year for tight ends across the league. Veteran star Travis Kelce has officially signed a one-year extension to return to the Chiefs, while Isaiah Likely has made a high-profile move from Baltimore to the Giants on a three-year, $40 million deal. With these stars anchoring their respective offenses, the position is set to play a pivotal role in the upcoming campaign.

Pelissero went on to break down Cousins‘ income for playing the 2026 NFL season, detailing how the money splits between the Falcons and the Raiders:

• While the Falcons pay $8.7 million in 2026, the Raiders pay the $1.3 minimum base salary.
• Raiders hand Cousins a $10 million fully guaranteed roster bonus on the third day of the league year next March that is not subject to offsets.
• Raiders hold a two-year, $80 million option for 2027-28.
• The deal includes two void years in 2029-30 for cap purposes.

“On paper, it’s a three-year, $81.3M deal (or five for $172M with the void years). In reality, it’s one-year, $20 million for Kirk Cousins, who now will have played under fully guaranteed contracts for 11 consecutive seasons,” Pelissero wrote.

Cousins might enter 2026 season as Raiders QB1

Not only does this contract show how Cousins continues to get paid even at 37, it also proves how important the Raiders seem to consider him for the upcoming season.

Las Vegas is expected to use the first overall pick to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza later this month, but the money Cousins will make suggests the veteran QB will enter the year as the starter.

This would avoid tossing the rookie into the fire so soon, allowing Mendoza to watch and learn while an experienced quarterback like Cousins leads the Raiders’ transition.

“Tua was a good fit for us,” the head coach said while speaking to NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo. “I think the football fit, the personal fit, I think he’s looking for a place where he can go and compete for a starting job, and that’s what we are offering to him.

“I think he’s somebody that has always competed in career, look back at his time at Alabama, so him coming in, and he wants to do what’s best for this football team, we’re excited to have him.”

The internal competition currently centers around Michael Penix Jr., who is still recovering from a serious injury. Will Tua ultimately be Kevin Stefanski’s choice as the starter?

Tua aims to prove he’s still got it

Tua Tagovailoa’s final stretch in South Beach was far from productive. In fact, in the Miami Dolphins’ latest outings, the decision to bench him was a clear indication that his performance fell short of expectations.

His 15 interceptions in the last season undoubtedly carried more weight than his 20 touchdowns or 2,660 yards. Now, it’s time for the quarterback to redeem himself, start from scratch, and show the Atlanta Falcons why he was brought in.

When will Michael Penix Jr. return to the field?

Following his season-ending injury in November 2025, and his third career ACL surgery, Michael Penix Jr. is expected to be medically cleared by April 2026 and aims to return to the field at some point during training camp this summer.

His latest numbers with the 49ers fully back him up: 92 carries, 400 total yards, 2 touchdowns, and a 4.3 average. The Falcons’ running back group is starting to become one to fear in the NFC.

Tua believes he still has a lot to give in the NFL, and he’s ready to face the 15 interceptions from his last season in Miami. Now on the ground, he has more than intriguing options to break down opposing defenses.

Backfield led by Bijan

The Falcons’ backfield is set to be one of the most dynamic in the league, led by their undisputed star Bijan Robinson. Coming off a dominant 2025 season, Robinson carried the ball 287 times for 1,478 yards, averaging an elite 5.2 yards per carry and scoring 7 touchdowns.

Veteran Brian Robinson Jr. arrived from the 49ers with a one-year 2.5M deal, to provide a powerful one-two punch following the departure of Tyler Allgeier. Behind them, the depth chart is rounded out by promising young talent, including Nathan Carter and Carlos Washington Jr., both of whom will compete for carries and special teams roles to ensure Atlanta maintains its relentless rushing attack.

The importance of the running game for Stefanski

Kevin Stefanski is known for an offensive system that prioritizes a heavy rushing attack, a philosophy he refined in Cleveland by centering his unit around elite backs. For example, he maximized Nick Chubb’s abilities during his time with the Dawg Pound.

His strategy centers on a wide-zone blocking scheme that demands RBs with elite vision and the ability to make decisive cut-backs. By establishing a dominant ground game, he forces defenses to play close to the line, which perfectly sets up his signature play-action passing attack.

Atlanta looks to improve on 2025

To break their latest 8-9 streak and return to the playoffs, the Falcons have moved on from Raheem Morris to embrace Kevin Stefanski’s elite offensive vision. By pairing Tua Tagovailoa with a loaded roster, Atlanta aim to dominate the NFC South.

With Kyle Pitts coming off a 928-yard season, Drake London adding 919 yards and 7 TDs, the Falcons finally have the firepower to demolish any defense. In this way, they aim to make a big impact in the upcoming NFL season.

“I am no stranger to competition,” the quarterback said via Tori McElhaney. Tua also revealed a bold promise to Falcons fans: “I think the best football is still ahead of me.”

The Alabama product had a final season in South Florida where he alternated between starting games and coming off the bench. Ultimately, his NFL journey landed him in the NFC South, where he will look to repay the confidence placed in him by his new franchise.

A rough 2025 for Tua

In his final season with the Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa posted a 6-8 record as a starter before his departure. He completed 260 of 384 passes for 2,660 yards, maintaining a 67.7% completion rate. While he threw 20 touchdowns, he also struggled with a career-high 15 interceptions and was sacked 30 times.

Falcons expand their QB room

In the past few hours, Kevin Stefanski added a new signal-caller to his roster. As insider Jeremy Fowler reported on X, the experienced Trevor Siemian is joining as a free agent.

Ahead of this offseason, and after Kirk Cousins entered free agency, Atlanta began its rebuilding process with only Michael Penix Jr. on its depth chart. That solitude quickly ended with the announcement of Tua Tagovailoa’s signing with Falcons and now complemented with the former Jets quarterback.

Falcons’ GM satisfied with offseason moves

Although the Falcons lost players of the caliber of Darnell Mooney, they managed to add more experience. In addition to Tua, names like WR Jahan Dotson and edge rusher Azeez Ojulari have also joined the roster.

Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham expressed satisfaction so far: “We really went into this free agency looking to elevate our floor. Adding depth pieces, but also players that have had starting experience that could start and that have shown that they’re able to start in this league.”

An exciting Draft ahead for Atlanta

Atlanta will face this event without first-round picks due to a trade made in the 2025 draft with the Rams for the 26th pick at that time, which was used to select James Pearce Jr. These are the moments when Falcons will make their selections:

• 2nd round: No. 48
• 3rd round: No. 79
• 4th round: No. 122
• 6th round: No. 215
• 7th round: No. 231

A few days ago, it was confirmed that Tua Tagovailoa would join the Atlanta Falcons following his release by the Dolphins. Fortunately for the NFC South club, they landed a veteran quarterback for very little money.

On Friday, it was confirmed that Tagovailoa signed a one-year, $1.215 million deal with the Falcons. This is the league minimum for this type of contract, and the Dolphins will have to absorb the rest of the guaranteed money.

Why are the Falcons paying $1.215 million to Tua Tagovailoa?

In the contract extension the Dolphins gave Tagovailoa in 2024, they structured it so that the quarterback had specific guaranteed money per season. Because the deal included offset language, Miami is still on the hook for his $54 million guaranteed salary in 2026.

Of that total, the $1.215 million paid by Atlanta will be deducted from Miami’s obligation, but the Dolphins still owe him the remaining $52.7 million. This was a financial hit the Dolphins accepted once they confirmed Tagovailoa would be released.

The one-year deal Tua signed with the Falcons will make him an unrestricted free agent in 2027. If he has a solid season—where he is expected to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting role—he may earn more lucrative offers in the upcoming offseason.

Cunningham said, via the team’s website, “For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in here to compete, like Michael knows he is coming in to compete, everybody quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position.”

He also revealed that no one is safe. “There are no starters right now,” Cunningham said. The Falcons GM said that, before bringing in Tagovailoa, they spoke to Penix to not blindside him.

Penix and Tua will be one of the more intriguing QB battles this offseason

Both are lefties, both have injuries to care about and have doubts over them. However, the Falcons are hoping that they sharpen each other and at least one evolves into the franchise quarterback this team clearly needs.

The fact is both have some flaws in his game. The fact is both still have upside, though the benefit of the doubt is not something any of these NFL two signal-callers have in abundance. It’s an intriguing thing and eyeballs will be on the Falcons until they give a final decision.

Tua and Penix both will have good weapons to work with

Having three first rounders as weapons is great for any quarterback. Drake London will be the wide receiver one, Kyle Pitts the tight end, and Bijan Robinson the running back. Not only are the three first rounders, but elite talents at their respective positions.

The Falcons QB depth chart now have Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa. Both are left-handed and injury prone. So it’s a weird circumstance, given that they have the same skill set and throwing arm, yet they also have the same worrying condition of not being highly durable.

Now, it will remain to be seen if the Falcons decide to trade Penix, who was a first-round pick two years ago. The other option is to have an open battle for QB1 and let new head coach Kevin Stefanski determine who will get the starting job.

Penix vs Tagovailoa does give a deciding winner

While both struggled last year, and even got the same passer rating, Tua is just a more polished passer of the football. However, he might be more reckless too (as you can see below with the INTs numbers). Simply put, the upside is with Tua, as he is more accurate and experienced.

Penix doesn’t look like a QB to take a team into new heights. Tua might not be as highly regarded as he once was, but he is a Pro Bowler that has led the NFL in passer rating (2022), passing yards (2023), and completion percentage (2024). Penix hasn’t shown that level to his game.

Stefanski is once again having to settle with a QB

Stefanski has won the Coach of the Year award twice, but he has never been able to have a stable QB situation. First, he got the worst version of Baker Mayfield. Then, he’s been through the likes of Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders. Now, he will have another QB battle between Penix and Tagovailoa.

One of the most explosive running backs in the NFC has arrived in Arizona to become part of a group of runners aiming to take a step forward in quality next season.

Allgeier joins Michael Carter, Emari Demercado and Corey Kiner on the depth chart of the Cardinals. It is also worth noting the presence of James Conner, who recently agreed to a contract restructuring and will remain with the team.

According to information shared by insider Mike Garafolo through his X account, Allgeier has agreed to terms on a two-year, $12.25 million deal. It represents an important boost for this offense, which still doesn’t know who will be leading it.

Explosion in the backfield of the Cardinals

Tyler Allgeier concluded his four-year stint with the Falcons by recording 514 rushing yards and a career-high 8 touchdowns during the 2025 season. Despite a career-low in yardage while sharing the backfield with Bijan Robinson, he maintained his reputation as a premier goal-line specialist with zero fumbles in 67 career games.

Having recently signed the Cardinals, Allgeier is expected to bolster their offense by providing a powerful “thunder” element alongside James Conner, potentially taking over lead duties in short-yardage and red-zone situations to stabilize a rebuilding unit.