Updated Feb. 10, 2026, 12:39 p.m. ET

The Atlanta Falcons are entering their first NFL offseason under general manager Ian Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski. With free agency opening next month, the Falcons must get their ducks in a row so they can hit the ground running when the new league year begins.

The future of the quarterback position is still somewhat unclear, however, we’re assuming the team will move forward with Michael Penix Jr. as its starter in 2026. According to multiple reports, Atlanta is expected to release veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins before the start of free agency.

With that in mind, let’s examine seven potential free-agent quarterback options for the Falcons in 2026.

1). QB Russell WilsonAge: 372025 Stats: 831 passing yards, 3 TD, 3 INTExpert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.

Wilson is not the player he used to be, but the Falcons aren’t looking for a franchise quarterback. The 10-time Pro Bowler is an ideal backup/bridge option for Atlanta in 2026. Last season, Wilson was benched by the New York Giants but still made a point to help with rookie Jaxson Dart’s development. With Cousins on the way out, the Falcons could use a veteran to fill the leadership void in the quarterback room. Wilson passed for 831 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions last season.

2). QB Malik WillisAge: 262025 stats: 422 passing yards, 3 TD, 123 rushing yards, 2 TD

Falcons fans will remember Willis from the 2022 NFL Draft. Many of us in the media projected Atlanta to draft the former Liberty quarterback in Round 1, however, he fell all the way to the third round. The Falcons passed on Willis for Desmond Ridder, which proved not to be a great move. While Willis initially struggled in Tennessee, he has played well since being traded to the Green Bay Packers. Last season, Willis appeared in four games and earned a QBR of 93.1. Unlike most of the other options on this list, Willis is someone that would compete for the starting job.

3). QB Tyrod TaylorAge: 362025 stats: 779 passing yards, 5 TD, 5 INT, 151 rushing yards

Tyrod Taylor is one of the better backups in this league, which is how he has consistently stayed employed over the last 15 years. The 36-year-old has passed for 13,033 yards, 73 touchdowns and 34 interceptions since entering ht league in 2011. Taylor appeared in six games for the New York Jets last season, making four starts and passing for 779 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

4). QB Tyler HuntleyAge: 282025 stats: 776, 2 TD, 0 INT, 151 rushing yards

Huntley has spent the last six seasons as a backup for the Baltimore Ravens. The 28-year-old appeared in five games last season (two starts), passing for 426 yards and two touchdowns while completing 77.6 percent of his attempts. Huntley even made a Pro Bowl in 2022. If the Falcons are looking for a high-upside backup who’s capable of filling in for a few games, Huntley has proven he can fill that role. For his career, the veteran QB has passed for 3,213 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, adding 795 rushing yards and five more scores on the ground.

5). QB Trey LanceAge: 252025 stats: 226 passing yards, 1 INT, 85 rushing yards

Lance has yet to really prove he can start in this league, but he played well in the preseason last year and has made some progress in terms of reading NFL defenses.The San Francisco 49ers traded up to get Lance with the third overall pick in 2021, but he clearly wasn’t ready. While he may never live up to the hype he had coming out of college, Lance has developed enough to at least be a backup. Perhaps Kevin Stefanski can get the most out of former top-five pick in Atlanta.

6). QB Joe FlaccoAge: 412025 stats: 2,479 passing yards, 15 TD, 10 INT

Flacco may be 41 years old, but he continues to play good football. Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski has extensive experience with Flacco from their time together in Cleveland. The Browns started Flacco in Week 1 and later traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran quarterback still passed for a respectable 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. A former Super Bowl MVP, Flacco has passed for 48,176 yards, 272 touchdowns and 172 interceptions over his 18-year career.

7). QB Carson WentzAge: 332025 stats: 1,216 passing yards, 6 TD, 5 INT

Wentz played pretty well for the Vikings last season but was less effective after suffering multiple injuries. The former No. 2 overall pick initially looked like a franchise QB in Philadelphia, and was a favorite for the MVP in his second season before going down late in the year. In terms of finding a quality backup who’s capable of winning a few games if Penix misses time, Wentz might be the best option available. For his career, the 33-year-old has passed 23,626 yards, 159 touchdowns and 72 interceptions.