The Atlanta Falcons have signed over a dozen players thus far in NFL free agency, and they’ve done so without much salary cap space. First-year general manager Ian Cunningham has added depth at the wide receiver, defensive line and quarterback positions.

Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa signed a one-year deal with the Falcons for the league minimum, giving Atlanta a veteran presence to replace Kirk Cousins. Tagovailoa can also provide insurance in case Michael Penix Jr. isn’t ready for the start of the season.

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Cunningham said he expects the two quarterbacks to compete for the starting job in 2026. Considering the team’s lack of cap space and draft capital, adding an experienced QB without taking on any risk has to be considered a win for the Falcons’ front office.

NFL.com’s Matt Okada broke down the smartest and riskiest additions thus far in free agency, listing Tagovailoa among the best signings due to the perceived value.

“In terms of investment versus potential return, this might be the smartest move of the entire offseason. With Miami releasing Tagovailoa, and carrying all of his dead money, the Falcons were able to land the veteran starter for the minimum,” wrote NFL.com’s Matt Okada. “And it couldn’t make more sense. Michael Penix Jr., the eighth overall pick in 2024, suffered a torn ACL in November and will likely be recovering right up to (or through) the start of the season.”

While Tagovailoa’s stock is obviously at an all-time low, he’s only a few years removed from his first Pro Bowl appearance. Okada even thinks the former Dolphins QB could be a potential long-term answer in Atlanta.

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“As for Tagovailoa, while he’s undoubtedly endured some struggles, he has led the league in completion rate (2024), passing yards (2023) and touchdown rate (2022) in various seasons, sports an NFL-best 69.9 completion percentage since 2023 and has a winning record (44-32) as a starter,” added Okada. “He has a specific skill set — as more of a quick-hitting game manager than an MVP-level game changer — but that could thrive in Kevin Stefanski’s offense in Atlanta. For nearly no risk, the Falcons have landed solid QB competition, a potential part-time starter in 2026 … and maybe even a longer-term answer, if things go well.”

The Falcons have also added several depth pieces on both offense and defense. On Friday, the team signed defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand, which will help mitigate the loss of veteran David Onyemata.

Former Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and tight end Austin Hooper have also returned to Atlanta on reported one-year contracts. We’ll have to wait and see what else Cunningham has up his sleeve in the coming weeks, but he’s off to a solid start.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa ranked among ‘smartest’ signings