ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Entering his sophomore season with the Atlanta Falcons, Michael Penix Jr. is facing a plethora of questions over his potential from coaches and executives around the league.
Mike Sando of The Athletic surveyed 50 NFL coaches and executives, who ranked quarterbacks into five tiers ahead of the 2025 season.
Penix ranked 28, joining New York Giants’ Russell Wilson, New York Jets’ Justin Fields, Minnesota Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy, Indianapolis Colts’ Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson, Cleveland Browns’ Joe Flacco and New Orleans Saints’ Spencer Rattler in the fourth tier.
According to the ranking, “A Tier 4 quarterback could be an unproven player (not enough information for voters to classify) or a veteran who ideally would not start all 17 games.”
The former No. 8 overall pick took over for Kirk Cousins as Atlanta’s starting quarterback in Week 15 and closed out the 2024 campaign with a 1-2 record. He threw for three touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 58.1% of his passes.
There were a plethora of ups and downs, but his performance in crunch time last season has one offensive coach convinced the team can win with him and a healthy run game.
“I would make him a 3 because, small sample size, but I thought the guy played really well in that two-minute drill against Washington. How you play in two-minute is the X-factor for quarterbacks in the NFL. For a young guy, he went in there, and he was slinging it. I think you can win with him and a healthy run game.”
An executive thinks first-team reps this offseason should help.
“His poise, his arm strength made a difference,” an exec said. “He can make a lot more throws than Kirk (Cousins) could make (last season). His decision-making was really good. His accuracy was spotty at times, but outside of that, he finished strong. He gives you hope.”
Kirk Cousins sits at the bottom of Tier 3
According to The Athletic, Cousins sits at the bottom of Tier 3 “in case he lands elsewhere as the Falcons transition to Michael Penix Jr. as their starter.”
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract prior to the 2024 campaign, and through the team’s first nine games (6-3), it looked like Atlanta’s win-now goal would play out.
The veteran would then struggle, leading the team to a 1-4 stretch and putting playoff hopes in jeopardy which would eventually prompt the Falcons’ third-straight in-season change at quarterback.
But throughout camp, Cousins has quietly boosted his trade value, and he’s expressed interest in a trade to a team where he has a chance to start.
“He’s been really good,” head coach Raheem Morris said after practice on Wednesday. “You’re talking about going through progressions and actually throwing the ball wherever you need to throw it. Obviously, he has the ability to come out of the pocket a little bit better than this time last year, coming off a significant injury. That’s dramatically improved, like it improved throughout the season. … But, I really love where he’s at from a communication standpoint with Mike [Penix], from his coaches.”
Cousins peaked QB Tiers last season with 31 Tier 2 votes, but his down season and “striking immobility” has voters pondering whether he’ll be the right man to lead a team elsewhere.
“His arm strength was not great and has fallen off a little more. I think that affected his confidence. Is that the injury, or is that him declining?”
Atlanta plays its second preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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