The Atlanta Falcons seem to be entering the 2026 NFL season with some clarity at quarterback, but it’s far from picture-perfect. The recent restructuring of Kirk Cousins’ contract sets the stage for his long-awaited release, meaning Atlanta will almost certainly roll with Michael Penix Jr. under center next year.
However, the Penix situation comes with some question marks. The soon-to-be third-year quarterback suffered yet another knee injury last season, creating uncertainty surrounding his preseason and Week 1 availability.
More importantly, there’s no knowing how Penix will look when he’s back on the field. He’s been able to bounce back from multiple ACL injuries in the past, and he’ll have to do it once again.
Looking at the situation with a wide lens, it might be in the Falcons’ best interest to add another veteran quarterback as an insurance policy of sorts.
Let’s evaluate one potential option.
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Geno Smith to the Atlanta Falcons: NFL Trade Idea
For the Seattle Seahawks, the pivot from Geno Smith to Sam Darnold was the driving factor behind their Super Bowl run. For the Las Vegas Raiders, the decision to trade for and extend Smith has proven to be disastrous.
Smith, in his first year with the Raiders, looked like a shell of the player who was named to two Pro Bowls during his five-year stint in Seattle. He made 15 starts, ultimately tossing 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
Luckily, the Raiders have been given a golden opportunity to course correct. They’ve landed the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which will undoubtedly be used to bring in Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza will be tasked with placing the franchise on a new trajectory, but it creates an awkward situation for Geno. Is it worth it to hold on to a backup quarterback with a $26.5 million cap hit?
Christopher Kline of FanSided believes a trade could be in store, predicting that Las Vegas will trade Smith to the Falcons this offseason.
“Maybe the 35-year-old is out of gas, but he was such a dynamic weapon in Seattle in 2024. It’s hard to get that version of Smith out of one’s mind. He probably looks better on a real team. The Atlanta Falcons should probably spice it up and cut Kirk Cousins. Michael Penix is still recovering from an ACL injury. Smith can come in with a full complement of weapons and give Kevin Stefanski the closest thing he’s seen to a real quarterback in quite some time,” wrote Kline.
Should The Falcons Trade For Geno Smith?
Frankly, I don’t see much value in this move.
Yes, it would be wise of the Falcons to have a backup plan in case Penix struggles to hit the ground running next season.
However, bringing in Smith is far from the ideal option.
Smith’s performance in Las Vegas was undoubtedly impacted by the talent around him, but it seems like his inevitable decline has arrived, at least to some degree.
After what we saw from Smith last year, the Falcons could very well find a quarterback with a much cheaper price tag who’s capable of delivering a similar product. On the free agent market, names like Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco pop out.
Flacco and Wilson aren’t ideal options, but neither has $18.5 million in guaranteed salary attached to them.
Altogether, if the Falcons want an insurance policy for Penix, they should be looking elsewhere.
Geno Smith Stats
Smith had a rough go of it in 2025, posting some poor stats in the process.
2025 Stats:
15 starts
448 attempts
302 completions
67.4% completion rate
3,025 passing yards
6.8 yards per attempt
19 passing touchdowns
17 interceptions
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