Andrew Buller-Russ
The Atlanta Falcons will have a new head coach next season. They could have a new quarterback too.
Michael Penix Jr., the eighth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, is still recovering from a torn ACL that occurred on Nov. 16. He may not be ready for the start of the season.
Either way, the Falcons are making other plans at the QB position after recently moving on from Kirk Cousins, who’s set for free agency again. With Cousins’ departure, the Falcons need more depth at the position, and new head coach Kevin Stefanski probably wants to have some say in the matter too.
According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the Falcons are “making a push” to sign the recently released Tua Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins are still paying Tagovailoa $54 million in 2026, so he’s expected to sign for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million. That makes him an incredible bargain, whether he makes any starts or not.
Yet, the Falcons could be banking on Tagovailoa returning to form as a Pro Bowl QB under coach Stefanski. At the very least, the 28-year-old brings 76 games of starting experience to Atlanta, where Penix has just 12 starts under his belt.
Plus, both Penix and Tagovailoa are left-handed quarterbacks, which should make for a smoother transition for the receivers catching passes that are spiraling in a different direction.
Related: 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 Projections Before NFL Free Agency
