The Atlanta Falcons have a new leader in former quarterback Matt Ryan, and the new President of Football Operations would not commit to Michael Penix being the heir to his throne. A first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Penix began his career behind veteran Kirk Cousins before taking over late in the season. The Washington product showed promise during that five-game stretch and entered 2025 as the unquestioned starter.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep that momentum going in his second season. Starting and appearing in nine games, the quarterback finished the season with a 3-6 record while completing 60.1% of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions before tearing his ACL. He didn’t play all that well when on the field, and these injuries are not a new development. Due to this, Matt Ryan wouldn’t commit to Michael Penix as his starting quarterback, even if he is healthy.
“Neither of us [Ryan and General Manager Ian Cunningham] are the head coach of the football team, so we can’t answer your question on that,” Ryan said during a recent press conference. “But I think all of us are going to get together…I think, as we start to get into the process, and dive deeper into the roster, how it currently stands, where it’s going in the future, I think those are conversations.”
Matt Ryan Won’t Commit to Michael Penix, Could Trade Former First-Round Pick
A lot can happen between now and the start of the regular season, but the fact that Ryan wouldn’t commit to Michael Penix is not a good sign for his future. After all, Ryan and the new coaching staff did not draft Penix, so nobody currently in the organization played a role in bringing the Washington product to Atlanta.
Perhaps he can prove himself with a strong offseason, but Michael Penix is fighting an uphill battle. His only solace could be that the team doesn’t have an easy path to finding his replacement. The Falcons do not have a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, so they’d need to find a replacement in free agency. Seeing how the Kirk Cousins contract turned out, Atlanta may be apprehensive about going down this road.
However, if the Falcons believe someone like Malik Willis would be an upgrade, then they could trade Michael Penix. They won’t get a first-round pick for his services, but they could get a mid-round pick for a player who was deemed worthy of a top-10 selection just two years ago.
Possible Fits
Nobody should be surprised if the Minnesota Vikings end up with one of Atlanta’s quarterbacks. While a Kirk Cousins reunion is far more likely, they could end up with Michael Penix. Head coach Kevin O’Connell reportedly wanted to stick with Sam Darnold last year, but they ultimately moved forward with J.J. McCarthy. This proved to be a mistake, as the Michigan product had a disastrous season in a strong environment.
Alternatively, the Cleveland Browns could also trade for Michael Penix. Despite his Pro Bowl appearance, Shedeur Sanders was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league by just about every metric. Head coach Todd Monken will want his own quarterback as he attempts to rebuild this organization, and Penix is the superior option.
Main Photo: Brett Davis – Imagn Images
