FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The quarterback position amassed numerous headlines at last week's NFL Scouting Combine, and the Atlanta Falcons' quarterback room was a frequent topic of conversation among the national media in attendance.
Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham announced the team is expected to release veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins at the start of the new league year on March 11, with a post-June 1 designation.
At the same time, Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski said Michael Penix Jr. is “on track” in his recovery from the season-ending ACL injury he suffered in 2025. Penix underwent surgery in early November. According to Emory Healthcare, the typical timeline for ACL rehabilitation places the return-to-competition stage around seven to eight months post-surgery.
However, Emory Healthcare notes that athletes are not usually back to 100% during that window. Full recovery is generally expected between 12 and 18 months, with Emory stating that “professional athletes take one year to return to high-level competition.”
With that broad timeline in mind — one neither the Falcons nor Penix has confirmed in detail — many members of the national media at the combine shared a similar view of Atlanta's quarterback situation. Here's what five different voices had to say when asked the same question: What should the Falcons do in the quarterback room around Penix?
Cam Wolfe, NFL Network
"Let's call it what it is: They have to add a quarterback. First of all, I believe in Michael (Penix). I believe that Michael will be the starting quarterback when he is healthy, but hope is not a strategy. You can't hope he's going to be ready in Week 1 or hope he's ready in July. So, I think they need to put resources into a strong solution, whether that's going into free agency and saying — not him per se — but is there a Daniel Jones type of player where we are spending $10 million on a quarterback who may ultimately be a backup, but he could also start Week 1 for you? I think they have to be willing to make those investments, and that's not a $3 million spend. That's not a use a fifth-round pick on a rookie. That's an investment.
"I don't know if we're expecting a first-round surprise, but would it surprise me if they spent a second- or third-round pick on a quarterback? No. Would it surprise me if they spent a decent amount of money on a quarterback in free agency? No. I think you have to prepare yourself as if this guy is going to be your starter all offseason, and at some point, you get Michael back during the season."
Judy Battista, NFL Network
"You obviously have to get a backup that you feel comfortable can play some games, because you don't know what the timeline is (for Penix). And Penix has been up and down. You have seen flashes of, 'Wow. Is this what it's going to be?' but it's been uneven. So, you have to insulate yourself, because even if he comes back, you have to prepared.
"We saw it so much in the NFL this year: Quarterbacks rarely play all 17 games, unfortunately, in the NFL. So, you have to be ready with a backup who can go in there and win games, and potentially win a few games. They have to get that in the building.
"I also think it would be better if they had a quarterback who has had some experience who can help (Penix) develop. I think those are the most successful quarterback rooms in the NFL. It's one where you have a young quarterback, you have a veteran who has been through it all and can mentor him and be a sounding board. Kevin Stefanski will obviously be a sounding board, too, but having a peer to be there, that helps a young quarterback, too."
Bryant McFadden, CBS Sports
"You hope for a speedy recovery for Penix, for him to be ready as soon as possible, but you also have to prepare as if that's not the case. I think seeing and understanding what Kevin Stefanski has done in years past, I believe he could potentially look for a veteran presence to be in the building just in case Penix isn't ready for Week 1.
"You want a capable quarterback who can keep things afloat until your young quarterback is ready to go. I think it should be Michael Penix's job as long as he's healthy, because you still haven't really seen what he can do. And you don't want to take the keys away from him too soon without really seeing. Year 1, he didn't really play a lot. Played the final three games. Year 2, there are a lot of things going on around him and then he gets hurt, and now this is Year 3 for him. Until he is healthy, you have to bring in someone who understands the offense, understands what it means to be a QB1 in this league and understands the sense of consistency. That could be a veteran guy who could be available who's not a threat in terms of a quarterback competition, because it could still be Penix's job. But this is a guy who comes in and says, 'You know what? Give me the keys until he's ready to go. I could do my best job to make sure we're winning games and be competitive to ultimately get to late January football.'"
Dan Graziano, ESPN
"Michael Penix's health is such a key part of (the Falcons' overall direction). It sounds positive on that front but without knowing for sure what his offseason looks like, it's hard to really peg it.
"... There are a lot of really good players, but it comes down — as it does for every team — to the quarterback situation. If (Penix) can continue to ascend, get and stay healthy, then I think it is probably arrow up."
