The Atlanta Falcons made significant offseason adjustments, from new coach Kevin Stefanski all the best way to a roster revamp on the offense. Atlanta launched veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and added former Miami Dolphins No. 5 general decide Tua Tagovailoa on a one-year, minimal deal.
With 2024 No. 8 general decide Michael Penix Jr. struggling an ACL damage in November of 2025 and nonetheless recovering from the damage, the Falcons wanted to bolster their quarterback room and did so with a Professional Bowler.
Tagovailoa seeks a recent begin after the Dolphins benched him within the last three video games of final season, then launched him, ending a six-year stint that by no means gained consistency. He may discover that recent begin in Atlanta, however first should compete for the job.
“It is humorous. Kevin [Stefanski] talked about this in February. We’re not within the enterprise of actually handing out beginning positions in February, and in March, the identical,” common supervisor Ian Cunningham stated. “For Tua, coming in right here, he is aware of he is coming in to compete, similar to Michael [Penix] is aware of that he is coming in to compete.”
With Penix nonetheless recovering, Atlanta might haven’t any selection however to start out the season with Tagovailoa, however that is one other factor that may solely be decided with time.
When Tagovailoa was benched in December, then-analyst Matt Ryan stated he wasn’t shocked at then-coach Mike McDaniel’s choice. In fact, these feedback got here earlier than Ryan accepted his function as president of Atlanta Falcons soccer operations.
“I feel Mike was proper, I feel Tua’s play hasn’t been adequate and to not the usual that they’ve talked about and set for themselves,” Ryan stated on the time.
This is a take a look at how Tagovailoa and Penix stack up over their careers:
Participant | Draft No. | Video games Performed | Video games Began | Document as a starter | Completion share | Passing yards | Passing touchdowns | Interceptions | Dashing touchdowns |
Tua Tagovailoa | 5 | 78 | 76 | 44-32 | 68.0 | 18,166 | 120 | 59 | 6 |
Michael Penix Jr. | 8 | 22 | 6 | 3-3 | 67.7 | 1,322 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
“Everyone, fairly frankly, not simply these two on the quarterback place, however all people is coming in to compete,” Cunningham stated. “There isn’t any starters proper now. We’re excited to have Tua, however we’re excited to have all of the gamers that we had been in a position to get this free-agent class.”
The Falcons quarterback scenario took attention-grabbing turns over the previous couple of years. When Atlanta chosen Penix, Cousins, who simply signed a four-year, $160 million contract with Atlanta, stated he felt “a little bit misled” by the transfer. Cunningham stated Penix was warned concerning the addition of Tagovailoa, saying they did not need to “blindside” him.
“We need to have open conversations and communication, and I really feel like we did that with reference to Michael and Tua,” Cunningham stated.
