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Despite having the most-talented roster in the division, there are more questions than answers regarding the Atlanta Falcons heading into the 2026 NFL season. Most of the uncertainty is centered around the situation at quarterback, where they have been lacking a certain long-term starter since Matt Ryan left after the 2021 campaign.
The Michael Penix-Tua Tagovailoa debate isn't the only question about this unit, though. Here's one for each position group on offense.
Here's the scenario: it's Week 9 and the Falcons have already lost Tua Tagovailoa to a season-ending concussion back in Week 4. Meanwhile, Penix is struggling to prove he's the answer. What's the backup plan if something like this happens? Trevor Siemian is currently their third-string quarterback but can hardly be considered a long-term solution. Unless UDFA quarterback Jack Strand is the next Tony Romo, the team may have to explore outside options. If they're still in the race at mid-season but don't have an established QB1, Atlanta may want to look hard at potential trade options like Mac Jones.
The one position the Falcons definitely don't need to worry about is running back, where they have the game's freakiest athlete in Bijan Robinson, who's about to enter the prime years of his career. Robinson has averaged over 1,400 rushing yards the last two seasons. For an encore, we believe he's capable of approaching 20 total touchdowns and 3,000 yards from scrimmage. All he needs to get there is a functional passing game and a few more early leads.
Things are far less certain at wide receiver, where the only sure thing is Drake London. The Falcons brought in Jahan Dotson in free agency and used a third-round draft pick on Georgia's Zachariah Branch, both of whom should be competing for the team's WR2 role after London. Our money is on Branch, but he'd be far from the first receiver to struggle in his rookie year. If neither Dotson nor Branch can cut it, the Falcons will have a very top-heavy dynamic going for a critical position group.
Last season tight end Kyle Pitts came through with career-best numbers in catches, touchdowns, first downs, catch rate and success rate. The Falcons rewarded him with a three-year, $54 million contract including $36 million guaranteed. Now all Pitts has to do is prove that 2025 wasn't an aberration - and that he can continue producing like a star tight end even with Drake London still in the lineup.
The Falcons had a good-but-not-great offensive line going last season. Since then, they have brought in a pair of new right tackles from Kansas City in Jawaan Taylor and Wanya Morris, but the real change was hiring Bill Callahan as their new offensive line coach. Widely regarded as the best OL coach in the game, Atlanta should be setting the bar very high going into 2026. It's not unreasonable to think that this group could be ranked the best in the NFL at this time next year.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: One question for each Falcons position group on offense
Continue reading...
The Michael Penix-Tua Tagovailoa debate isn't the only question about this unit, though. Here's one for each position group on offense.
QB: What's the plan if both Penix and Tagovailoa fail?
Here's the scenario: it's Week 9 and the Falcons have already lost Tua Tagovailoa to a season-ending concussion back in Week 4. Meanwhile, Penix is struggling to prove he's the answer. What's the backup plan if something like this happens? Trevor Siemian is currently their third-string quarterback but can hardly be considered a long-term solution. Unless UDFA quarterback Jack Strand is the next Tony Romo, the team may have to explore outside options. If they're still in the race at mid-season but don't have an established QB1, Atlanta may want to look hard at potential trade options like Mac Jones.
RB: What's the ceiling for Bijan Robinson?
The one position the Falcons definitely don't need to worry about is running back, where they have the game's freakiest athlete in Bijan Robinson, who's about to enter the prime years of his career. Robinson has averaged over 1,400 rushing yards the last two seasons. For an encore, we believe he's capable of approaching 20 total touchdowns and 3,000 yards from scrimmage. All he needs to get there is a functional passing game and a few more early leads.
WR: Who steps up after Drake London?
Things are far less certain at wide receiver, where the only sure thing is Drake London. The Falcons brought in Jahan Dotson in free agency and used a third-round draft pick on Georgia's Zachariah Branch, both of whom should be competing for the team's WR2 role after London. Our money is on Branch, but he'd be far from the first receiver to struggle in his rookie year. If neither Dotson nor Branch can cut it, the Falcons will have a very top-heavy dynamic going for a critical position group.
TE: Can Kyle Pitts do it again?
Last season tight end Kyle Pitts came through with career-best numbers in catches, touchdowns, first downs, catch rate and success rate. The Falcons rewarded him with a three-year, $54 million contract including $36 million guaranteed. Now all Pitts has to do is prove that 2025 wasn't an aberration - and that he can continue producing like a star tight end even with Drake London still in the lineup.
OL: Still among the NFL's best?
The Falcons had a good-but-not-great offensive line going last season. Since then, they have brought in a pair of new right tackles from Kansas City in Jawaan Taylor and Wanya Morris, but the real change was hiring Bill Callahan as their new offensive line coach. Widely regarded as the best OL coach in the game, Atlanta should be setting the bar very high going into 2026. It's not unreasonable to think that this group could be ranked the best in the NFL at this time next year.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: One question for each Falcons position group on offense
Continue reading...
