Michael Penix’s Season-Ending Injury Proves Falcons Must Take a QB Early in NFL Draft

What the Atlanta Falcons and other teams feared most about Michael Penix Jr. has become a reality, and it is exactly why the organization must seriously consider using its top pick in April on his eventual replacement.

The Falcons created a messy situation for themselves when they gave Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million contract a year ago, then used their top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on a quarterback. However, despite the odd decision to use the 8th pick overall on former Washington star Michael Penix Jr., it worked out for them last year.

Cousins was awful in his first season back from a ruptured Achilles, and the rookie gave ATL fans hope late in the season that he actually could be a star in the league like he was in college. However, there was a reason three other QBs were taken ahead of him in the 2024 NFL Draft. Penix Jr. has an extensive injury history.

He played in just 20 games during four seasons at Indiana after suffering ACL tears twice and shoulder issues. However, he was able to overcome the massive setbacks and go on to become a star after transferring to Washington, and he led the program to the championship game in 2024. However, his injury woes have returned in 2025.

He missed a game in Week 8 due to a bone bruise, and on Wednesday, it was revealed his season is officially over due to a partial tear in the ACL of his left knee. His latest knee injury should set off loud alarm bells for the Falcons, and they need to take a hard look at replacement options for Penix Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft.

2026 is a good year for the Falcons to select a QB early in the NFL Draft

If Michael Penix Jr. were having the type of season Jayden Daniels had last year, or CJ Stroud had in 2023, Atlanta would need to hope for the best because the upside was too good to pass on. Unfortunately, the second-year QB has just been okay this year and hasn’t given the Falcons reason to believe he is a no-doubt star on the rise.

Then you factor in his injury history, and the team must seriously look at having a strong backup plan in the event of more injuries or poor play. Especially if they move on from Cousins after the season. The NFL Draft offers that possibility. However, there is one huge problem for the Falcons: they traded away their first-round pick in 2026. Nevertheless, the QB class in the spring event is deep and offers the Falcons options in the second round.

Indiana star Fernando Mendoza, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, and Oregon’s Dante Moore will probably be off the board early in Round 1. However, if Atlanta could trade into the end of the first, or even early in the second, there are some high upside prospects.

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