The Atlanta Falcons have a new president of football, a new head coach, a new general manager and a new offensive coordinator. And, still, Falcons fans are most interested in talking about the quarterback. It’s a testament to them because the fate of Atlanta’s quarterback position is going to impact Matt Ryan, Kevin Stefanski, Ian Cunningham and Tommy Rees more than any other factor.

In fact, there were so many questions about the quarterbacks, and the issue has so many layers, that we’re just answering quarterback questions today in Part 1 of this Falcons mailbag. We’ll follow up with Part 2 next week to dive into your non-QB questions.

Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length.

The Falcons underestimated Kirk Cousins’ rehabilitation timetable and how the injury would affect his first year of play. Much of the public is doing the same with Michael Penix Jr. Among the 11 veteran quarterback choices you provided for us, who are the top three candidates — excluding Cousins — the Falcons might realistically shoot for? — Seaborn H.

I gather from the three news conferences with the new people in charge at Flowery Branch that there is no clear support of Penix moving forward. How do you rate the answers by Ian, Kevin and Matt? — Andy H.

How realistic is it that Cousins re-signs and ends up as the starter this year? — Keith B.

As our questions illustrate, there are several levels to Atlanta’s quarterback discussion, but we’re going to start with Penix because everything else flows from that. Stefanski and Ryan gave vague endorsements of the third-year pro during their introductory news conferences. That was to be expected because neither has had much time to seriously evaluate Penix, and his health does remain a question mark as he works his way back from a partially torn ACL. Cunningham didn’t address the quarterback in his opening news conference, but only because Ryan jumped in on a question addressed to them both, asking, “Is Penix your starting quarterback?”

“Neither of us (is) the head coach of the football team, so we can’t answer your question on that,” Ryan said. “As we start to get into this process and dive deeper into the roster, how it currently stands, where it’s going in the future, those are conversations that will be a part of it. Quarterback is obviously very important, and we’re excited about Mike and what he’s doing with his rehab. I’ve been up at the facility the last three weeks, and Michael’s been in there attacking that, and he’s in a good space right now. So we’re excited about where he’s at.”

That sounds like a “We’ll see,” which is a fair answer. Penix’s results in his first two seasons were mixed. There have been bright spots, but he’s 4-8 as a starting quarterback and 24th in EPA per dropback (0.03), 29th in passing yards per game (196.9), 42nd in off-target percentage (13.9) and 44th in competition percentage (59.6) among quarterbacks with more than 250 pass attempts in the last two years, according to TruMedia.

It would be foolish for Atlanta’s decision-makers to shout from the rafters, “This is our guy,” especially considering that he’s rehabbing from his fifth season-ending injury. Given that mobility is not a big part of Penix’s game, the knee probably won’t affect him once he’s fully healthy, but there’s a real question about whether that will be closer to Week 1 or Week 8. He suffered the injury on Nov. 16, and the typical recovery timeline is nine to 12 months.

So, the Falcons must have a decent second option at the position before they start training camp. The most obvious candidate would appear to be Cousins, but that’s complicated for the reasons we laid out here. If Atlanta has to go looking for another quarterback, it’s going to find the options thin. To Seaborn’s question about my top veteran options, they would be: releasing and then re-signing Cousins on an inexpensive deal, working out a trade for Mac Jones or signing Malik Willis. (Remember, there aren’t a lot of great answers.)

What are the chances the Falcons address the quarterback situation in the draft? Either Trinidad Chambliss earlier or Garrett Nussmeier later? — Josh R.

If the Falcons don’t add a veteran to bolster the quarterback room before the draft, it would be our first indication that they truly are optimistic about Penix because this draft class is as shallow as the free-agent pool. The only player most analysts consider a surefire starter in the league is Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who won’t be available with the second pick, much less in the second round, where Atlanta is set to start this draft.

I do think Josh has identified two of the most interesting prospects who could be available in the back half of the draft, though.

Chambliss spent most of his college career at Division II Ferris State, but he then led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff, where he was excellent in a quarterfinal upset of Georgia. Nussmeier, the son of Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, has enough pedigree and experience that someone will take a chance on him. Still, I don’t think either should be expected to be an above-average starter at any point in their careers.

To sum up, I still think Penix is this team’s primary quarterback in 2026 and beyond — and not just because there isn’t another obvious alternative. Penix has all the tools to be a quality starter, and I like what I’ve heard from Stefanski about his plan to give Penix a detailed, daily plan to get better. I think one of the previous offensive coaching staff’s faults was believing so much in Penix that he didn’t get enough daily coaching.

Given that the Browns’ quarterback room was an absolute disaster for most of the time Kevin Stefanski was there, what evidence is there that he can do better with the Falcons? — Seth S.

I can’t imagine anyone will ever be able to accurately parse blame for the way Baker Mayfield’s time in Cleveland ended. And I don’t know if we’ll ever know how much Stefanski was involved in the Browns’ decision to bring in Deshaun Watson. Without those facts, it’s hard to know whether Stefanski is a terrible manager of that position or if he was simply undone by an organization that could not provide him with suitable raw materials.

Much of how that time gets remembered will be determined by how he handles the Falcons’ quarterback situation. If Penix develops under Stefanski, we’ll all blame Cleveland for its quarterback problems. If Penix doesn’t develop and Stefanski can’t find a better option, then Browns fans (and Mayfield) will say, “We told you that guy stinks.”

The most heartening thing for Falcons fans in the very little we’ve heard so far from Stefanski is this: “I think I’m a constant learner. I hope I have a growth mindset where I’m going to get better at my job … every single day. I don’t feel like I’m a finished product. All of the lessons learned in Cleveland, in Minnesota, I take all of that with me.”

He had plenty of learning opportunities handling a wide variety of quarterbacks with the Browns. The Falcons now get to see what he learned.