Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. faces an uphill battle heading into the 2026 season. Not solely will he be recovering from knee surgical procedure to restore his ACL, however he’ll as soon as once more be competing for the beginning job in opposition to one other veteran in Tua Tagovailoa.
When Penix was drafted No. 8 total within the 2024 NFL Draft, he was believed to be the Falcons’ future at quarterback. Yet two years later, there are not any clear indicators that’s the case. That’s why CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles believes Atlanta went within the unsuitable course.
CBS Sports Re-Drafts Falcons’ 2024 No. 8 Pick
In Pereles’ 2024 NFL re-draft, he has the Falcons addressing what was then a way more urgent want, deciding on cornerback Quinyon Mitchell with the No. 8 total choose. Mitchell nonetheless ended up within the NFC, although with the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 22 total.
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“The Falcons’ stunning decision to draft Penix just weeks after signing Kirk Cousins in free agency doesn’t look any better in this redraft,” Pereles wrote. “Penix hasn’t been on the field much, suffered yet another major knee injury last year and hasn’t been very good when on the field. Now he’s battling Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job. Instead, the Falcons land an absolute stud in Mitchell, who was an All Pro last year.”
Mitchell, 24, was lately listed amongst ESPN’s top cornerbacks within the NFL, rating No. 6 total.
“Well-rounded coverage game and very competitive against the opposing team’s No. 1,” an AFC government mentioned. “Turnover production holds him back from the top of the group for me. Still an excellent player.”
The Eagles cornerback has but to document an interception in two seasons, although he does have 29 move breakups.
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At least the Falcons lastly determined to handle the cornerback place on this yr’s draft, deciding on Clemson’s Avieon Terrell within the second spherical. He joins his brother, A.J. Terrell, who has been the staff’s prime cornerback during the last a number of years.
Will Michael Penix Jr. Be A Bust For The Falcons?
Penix, 26, has suffered a mixed 5 accidents to each knees all through his soccer profession courting again to school. The torn left ACL he suffered final November solely added extra scrutiny to his choice in 2024 by the earlier Falcons regime led by common supervisor Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris.
In two seasons, Penix has began simply 12 video games, going 4-8. He has thrown for two,757 yards, 12 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
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One space specifically that the previous first-round choose has drawn criticism for is his accuracy. He owns a profession completion share of 59.6%.
That’s one cause Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes Penix might be headed towards bust territory as he competes with Tagovailoa for the beginning job.
“By the start of the preseason, Tagovailoa may be in pole position for the lead role,” Moton wrote. “Even if Penix wins the competition, his spotty 59.6 percent completion rate could eventually cost him the job. Tagovailoa has a career 68 percent completion rate.”
The Falcons in all probability have essentially the most fascinating quarterback battle in all of the NFL getting into the 2026 season. And it might be one that’s price watching for almost all of the season.
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