Uncertainty Under Center: The Falcons' Ongoing Quarterback Search
Current Quarterback Battle: Tagovailoa vs. Penix Jr.
The Atlanta Falcons are currently evaluating their quarterback options, with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. vying for the starting role. Penix Jr. recently returned to full team activities on August 22, having recovered from ACL surgery. Both quarterbacks are now splitting first-team practice repetitions as head coach Kevin Stefanski works to determine who will lead the team in Week 1.
Early 2027 NFL Mock Draft Prediction for the Falcons
Despite the ongoing competition, one analyst's early 2027 NFL mock draft projects a different future for the Falcons. Draft Sharks' Shane Hallam predicts that Atlanta will select South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers with the seventh overall pick. Hallam suggests that the Falcons' current quarterback strategy, involving Tagovailoa and Penix Jr., is unlikely to yield the desired long-term results.
Atlanta's Persistent Quarterback Instability
This projection underscores a pattern of instability at the quarterback position for the Falcons since Matt Ryan's departure. The team notably drafted Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in 2024, despite having signed Kirk Cousins to a substantial four-year contract earlier that offseason. Penix Jr. eventually took over from Cousins but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 11 of 2025. Following this, the Falcons acquired Tagovailoa on a league-minimum deal after his release from Miami, initiating yet another quarterback competition.
The “OR” on the Depth Chart
The fluidity of the situation is further evidenced by AtlantaFalcons.com's Tori McElhaney's report on August 25, which indicated that the team's latest unofficial depth chart lists Tagovailoa and Penix Jr. as co-starters, separated by an “OR.” This reflects the current indecision within the team's coaching staff regarding who will ultimately secure the starting position.
LaNorris Sellers' Collegiate Performance and Potential Concerns
LaNorris Sellers has played in 27 games over three seasons at South Carolina, completing 63.4% of his passes for 5,057 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He has also added 995 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. While Hallam acknowledges Sellers' athleticism, size, and arm strength as indicators of high upside, he also notes that Sellers has not yet consistently proven himself as a top-tier talent. His completion percentage and passing touchdowns declined in 2025 compared to 2024, making his 2026 season crucial for his draft stock.
Implications of Another Top-10 Quarterback Pick
For the Falcons, selecting another quarterback in the top 10 would carry significant implications. Penix Jr. would still be under his rookie contract in 2027, and Tagovailoa represents a recent veteran acquisition. Such a move would effectively be an admission by the Falcons' front office that their previous attempts to solidify the quarterback position have not succeeded, signaling a continued struggle to find a franchise cornerstone. While the 2026 season could alter this outlook, the historical pattern suggests that another quarterback change would not be entirely unexpected for a team that has experienced considerable turnover at the position
