There has been plenty of competition in the Atlanta Falcons quarterback room since the departure of Matt Ryan. Now that the team seems secure in former first-round pick Michael Penix, what will happen with the rest of the depth chart?
Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Room Entering the 2025 Season
The Future: Michael Penix
Everybody knows that this kid is the future of the organization. After this pick shocked many fans (including Kirk Cousins) in last year’s NFL Draft, it seems the Falcons planned to let Michael Penix sit behind and learn from Cousins. Similarly to how Jordan Love learned from Aaron Rodgers, fans were content with what this pick could mean. However, Penix got thrust into a starting role much sooner than many expected.
In the last three games of the year, he started and threw three touchdowns with three interceptions. The team went 1-2 in those games with two overtime losses vs the Panthers and Commanders. Michael Penix showed plenty of promise in these games and should inspire hope in the fanbase. Expect to see major improvements in Penix’s play with a full year learning the offense and building chemistry with the team.
Kirk Cousins: The…Past?
None of us know what the future holds for Kirk Cousins with the Atlanta Falcons. The quarterback had a hot start to the last season with plenty of promise. Cousins even set a franchise record for the Falcons in passing yards in a game vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 509 yards. However, he struggled heavily ever since that game. From that game until his benching, he threw four touchdowns to nine interceptions.
In a season coming off of a major Achilles injury, Cousins had some major up-and-down moments. After accepting his $10 million roster bonus on March 17, it is obvious that the Falcons have a plan for him going forward. Despite the roster bonus, it is very unlikely that we will see anybody other than Michael Penix as QB1 next season.
Emory Jones: The Safety Net
Emory Jones was a practice squad steal from the Baltimore Ravens back in December and will be a solid QB3 option for Atlanta. If you ask the Patriots and former head coach Bill Belichick, it never hurts to have deep quarterback depth. Not to compare Jones to Tom Brady, but Emory Jones provides a solid safety net for the Falcons next season.
Jones was a solid starting quarterback in Florida and Cincinnati in college. Though he had his fair share of struggles, he proved to be a solid starter for schools in competitive conferences. If injuries are an issue for the Falcons next year and things get tight, the team should be in good hands with Jones. With the way his style of play complements the run game, he would mesh well in an offense that hosts one of the best backs in the league with Bijan Robinson.
What This Means for 2025
The Falcons have a serviceable quarterback room heading into 2025. It isn’t the best in the league, but there is no reason to think this room can’t lead the team to a playoff spot. Despite the questions at quarterback, the team is secure in almost every other position on offense. With more help on the way in the 2025 NFL Draft, this offense should do well regardless of who is at the helm. Penix and Cousins should show improvement after a full year with the Falcons, with Emory Jones there in case of emergency. Fans should be pleased with this room going forward. With that being said, this upcoming season will answer a lot of questions we have as a fanbase.
Main Photo: Dale Zanine – Imagn Images
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