The Falcoholic - All Posts

Falcons extend Kaleb McGary, Micah Parsons trade rumors: Tuesday Takes

2025-08-04T16:48:58-04:00

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Falcons extended Kaleb McGary, Micah Parsons trade rumors swirl, and James Pearce Jr. emerges as the villain the Falcons need. Kevin Knight and Tre’Shon Diaz address the latest news coming out of Atlanta, including some updates from training camp.

The Atlanta Falcons extended Kaleb McGary, Micah Parsons trade rumors swirl, and James Pearce Jr. emerges as the villain the Falcons need. Kevin Knight and Tre’Shon Diaz address the latest news coming out of Atlanta, including some updates from training camp. Fellow Falcoholics, welcome to another episode of the Dirty Birds and Brews podcast!

You can also listen to all of our video shows in an audio-only podcast format, available on all your favorite podcast platforms or by using the player below.

If you’re interested in supporting the show, check out our Patreon page to unlock access to exclusive perks including Patron Q&A sessions, Discord perks, live shout-outs and more!

Be sure to check out the new community Discord server here! Come chat with your fellow Falcons fans about the show, the team, the NFL draft, and more.

You can watch the show here on The Falcoholic, but we recommend watching on YouT u be for the best experience—including full 1080p HD video and access to the live Q&A in the chat. You can also access the show using your smart TV or device using the YouTube app for the real big-screen experience!

We hope you enjoy the show! If you have comments, we’d love to hear them. Send them to us on Twitter (@FalcoholicLive), leave them below, or e-mail the show at falcoholiclive@gmail.com.

Thanks for watching!

Falcons sign offensive tackle Kaleb McGary to a two-year extension

2025-08-04T13:56:34-04:00

Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images

After some speculation about his future in Atlanta, the Falcons came to terms with offensive tackle Kaleb McGary on a two-year extension.

The Atlanta Falcons took a break from training camp to take care of a little unfinished business. On Tuesday afternoon, the team announced a two-year, $30M extension for offensive tackle Kaleb McGary. McGary, 30, has started for the Falcons ever since he was drafted 31st overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. This marks his second extension with Atlanta and keeps him under contract through the 2027 season.

.@KalebMcgary is staying in The
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 4, 2025

After an up-and-down start to his NFL career, McGary settled in at right tackle and became an absolute force as a run blocker. His pass protection, while inconsistent at times, has largely improved as well. McGary is a reliable presence on the offensive line who now takes on added importance as the blindside protector for the left-handed Michael Penix Jr.

There was a bit of intrigue around McGary’s future status with the team, given his previous struggles in pass protection and the likely move to a more pass-focused offense with Penix Jr. at the helm. After an extension wasn’t reached earlier in the offseason, it initially seemed like the team might allow McGary to play out his contract and potentially walk in 2026 free agency.

Personally, I always thought that was unlikely. McGary is a good offensive tackle, and those are hard enough to find when you’ve got a full complement of resources. The Falcons traded away their 2026 first-round pick to move up for edge rusher James Pearce Jr., which would’ve made that task significantly harder. Instead, Atlanta reached what appears to be a good value extension with McGary, who is averaging approximately $15M APY in new money.

We’re not yet privy to the exact contract details, but it’s entirely possible that the Falcons will create 2025 cap space with this extension—especially given the relative value of that $15M/yr number. The team could create up to $10.6M in cap space with this extension if they so desired, although I imagine they wouldn’t push it that far. Either way, the team has a valuable starter in McGary locked up through his early 30s at what looks like a very reasonable price.

What do you think about the Falcons decision to extend Kaleb McGary? How do you feel about the $15M/yr, is it good value or an overpay?

Michael Penix, Kirk Cousins will not play in preseason opener vs. Lions

2025-08-04T09:43:18-04:00

Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The team’s starter and top backup aren’t playing Friday, and they’re unlikely to be alone.

Raheem Morris has made it clear that he is not a fan of playing starters often, or really at all, in preseason. That’s a controversial approach, but one that’s becoming increasingly common as teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, and Detroit Lions elect to avoid injury risk and prioritize practices and scrimmages to get their starters reps; in 2023, 14 teams parked their starting quarterbacks for the first two preseason games and eight additional teams gave their starters fewer than 10 snaps.

Given that recent history and what Morris did in 2024, it’s no great surprise to learn Michael Penix and Kirk Cousins will not be taking the field on Friday for the team’s preseason opener against the Detroit Lions. Instead, you should expect Easton Stick and Emory Jones to each get about a half of football against Detroit, which will also likely be rolling out the deep backups.

Raheem Morris says Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins will not play this Friday for the #Falcons in their first preseason game.
— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) August 4, 2025

This makes for a duller preseason product and raises fresh anxiety about how the team will look early on, especially with Penix being relatively new as an NFL starter. The team’s hope is that they’ll get key starters to the regular season in good health and that the, say, 10-12 snaps Penix might get in the average preseason game is far less important than the consistent day-in, day-out work of the summer. That’s probably fair, but in such a critical year, it’ll be difficult for fans not to scrutinize how the offense looks early on, especially because I’d bet my bottom dollar that we’re not going to see many starters out there at all on Friday.

The opportunity is now there for reserves to make their cases in a major way, of course. The Falcons will almost certainly keep a third quarterback on the practice squad, and Stick and Jones have both had their moments in practice that they’ll badly want to transfer to live game action. That battle—and battles like RB3, WR5/6, TE3, and frankly every deep reserve role on the defense—will be settled in the long slogs that these three upcoming preseason games represent.

A slow start to the 2025 season will expose Morris and the Falcons to a fresh wave of preseason-related criticism, but don’t expect Morris to budge regardless. We’ll see if we see Penix and Cousins at all in preseason, or if this figures to be the Stick and Jones show.

Falcons added CB Grayland Arnold, waive OL Kilian Zierer over the weekend

2025-08-04T08:00:00-04:00

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

The Falcons are keen to keep shuffling their secondary depth.

When your head coach is a longtime defensive backs coach, your assistant head coach is a longtime defensive backs coach, and your franchise justifiably views the secondary as a critical piece of the team, you’re going to stack depth there. That’s particularly true when roster limits are expanded in the summer, and it explains why the Falcons have pruned a couple areas of the roster in the last week to add defensive backs.

Previously it was wide receiver Makai Polk exiting in favor of safety Henry Black, and over the weekend they added cornerback Grayland Arnold while cutting ties with offensive lineman Kilian Zierer. Zierer was swiftly claimed off of waivers by the Browns, so our standard issue “we wish him well” doesn’t need to end in “wherever he ends up.” Cleveland desperately needs offensive linemen, and Zierer has size and athletic ability to be interesting, but was obviously a longshot to make Atlanta’s roster.

Arnold may have a better shot, though he’s likely gunning for a practice squad role. The veteran began his career with the Eagles back in 2020 as an undrafted free agent. An improved tackler versus his college days, Arnold has carved out a role on special teams in the pros, though he last appeared in an NFL regular season game back in 2023 with the Texans. A turnover-causing machine in the late stages of his college career, Arnold has interesting ball skills and could be a fun reserve corner with special teams value if he enjoys a good summer. The crowded nature of the cornerback room is working against him, but the team should have a couple of openings on the practice squad, especially if Natrone Brooks squeezes his way onto the 53 man roster.

Give Arnold a warm welcome, and we’ll see how he fares in camp and preseason.

EA Sports reveals player ratings for Madden 26

2025-08-02T08:00:00-04:00

Photo illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images

The Falcons have a few highly-rated players this year...and a few shockingly low-rated ones.

The countdown to NFL preseason is nearly over, and that means one thing for football gamers — the latest edition of EA Sports’ Madden franchise is right around the corner. Madden 26 is set to bring updated rosters, fresh features, and plenty of debate over player ratings.

For Atlanta Falcons fans, this year’s game brings some exciting numbers. A few key players have earned standout ratings heading into the season, reflecting their impact on the field. Among the top-rated Falcons are ballhawk Jessie Bates III, All-Pro guard Chris Lindstrom, lockdown corner A.J. Terrell, and dynamic rookie running back Bijan Robinson, all of whom cracked the upper echelon of their respective position groups.

Let’s take a look at some notable player ratings on the Falcons.

A few names way down in the list, unfortunately, include quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who received a 74 overall rating. Additionally, Madden doesn’t seem to think too highly of the Falcons starting center Ryan Neuzil who received an overall rating of 65. You can view the rest of the Falcons players’ ratings in Madden 26 by clicking here.

Madden 26 officially launches on August 14th.

The Falcons should call about Micah Parsons, but it certainly won’t be cheap

2025-08-01T20:04:32-04:00

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Parsons is probably going nowhere, but every team has to at least pick up the phone.

Leave it to the Dallas Cowboys to hijack an otherwise normal day of training camp news.

According to Micah Parsons himself, the two-time All-Pro edge rusher has requested a trade amid growing frustration over his contract situation.

Thank you Dallas ! I pic.twitter.com/EUnEj9uRUt
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 1, 2025

Parsons ranks sixth all-time in sacks through his first four seasons with 52.5, joining an exclusive club that includes Reggie White, Al “Bubba” Baker, Derrick Thomas, J.J. Watt, DeMarcus Ware, and Dwight Freeney.

A pass rusher in that kind of rarified air fits any team, especially a team like the Atlanta Falcons, who rank 31st in sacks (245) since 2017.

But here’s the problem: acquiring Parsons would come at a staggering price.

If you’re the Cowboys, the conversation starts with three first-round picks. That’s a tough ask for an Atlanta front office that already shipped its 2026 first-rounder to the Rams to land James Pearce Jr., a pass rusher who may very well develop into a star in his own right.

Maybe Terry Fontenot could negotiate that down, say, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 third-rounder, a 2026 2nd-rounder, and a key player to make up for the 2026 pick. But then comes the even bigger hurdle: paying Parsons. His next contract likely resets the market.

Would the Cowboys want a player like Tyler Allgeier to bolster Brian Schottenheimer’s between-the-tackles run game? Maybe. Allgeier’s a bruiser who’d complement Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, who’s currently rehabbing a knee injury.

Could Kyle Pitts be part of the pitch? Possibly. A healthy Pitts could stretch the field alongside CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and unlock even more for Dak Prescott.

Even then, it’s hard to imagine Dallas biting. Defensive standouts like Pearce Jr., Jalon Walker, Bralen Trice, Troy Andersen, A.J. Terrell, and Jessie Bates would all likely be requested, and none of them would be easy to part with.

And that’s all before we ask the most important question:

Is Micah Parsons actually going anywhere?

Probably not.

We’ve seen this movie last offseason with Myles Garrett and the Browns, even with Prescott himself. Public contract frustration doesn’t always mean a trade is coming. And if it is coming, teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, or Green Bay Packers have more immediate assets and cap flexibility than Atlanta can realistically offer.

The Falcons should make the call. You don’t ignore elite talent like this.

But expecting anything more than a quick check-in?

Don’t count on it.

Projecting the Falcons roster after the first week of training camp

2025-08-01T12:00:00-04:00

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Falcons completed the first week of training camp, and we’ve learned a lot about the current state of the roster. Here’s our latest roster projection based on our observations from Flowery Branch.

The Atlanta Falcons completed the first week of training camp, and we’ve learned a lot about the current state of the roster. Some battles have delivered expected results, while others have been surprising to downright shocking. Atlanta’s defense has punched back against the offense despite the supposed talent disparity, giving fans a lot of hope that this team could be better than expected in 2025.

Of course, hope always springs eternal at this stage of the season. I’m here to bring you my observations from the first five practices and how I expect Atlanta’s roster to look based on what we’ve seen so far. Most position groups are panning or more-or-less as expected, with a few notable changes that could have wide-ranging (positive!) consequences for the team’s depth. Let’s take a closer look at how the 53-man roster is shaking out heading into preparation for the first preseason game.

The roster projection is also available in both video and audio format, which you can find embedded below. If you enjoyed the written version, consider giving us a click on these platforms as well.

Listen to the audio version of this article using the player below, or find it on your favorite podcast platforms.

Italics denote a change from the previous roster projection.

OFFENSE - 24

Quarterback - 3

Michael Penix Jr.
Kirk Cousins
Easton Stick

Michael Penix Jr. has quieted all doubters through the first week of training camp, littering the internet with highlight reel throws to a multitude of receivers. His short passing still needs work, especially in the red zone, but the arm talent and explosive plays give Penix an incredible NFL ceiling. Kirk Cousins looks fully healthy and has had an efficient training camp thus far. He’s clearly the best backup QB in the NFL, and I still think he’ll be starting for another team before Week 1. Easton Stick has been a solid QB3, but we likely won’t see much of note from him until the preseason.

Running Back - 3

Bijan Robinson
Tyler Allgeier
Carlos Washington Jr.

Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier are as expected: awesome and dominant. There will be 2RB packages, and Bijan will be used as a receiver more in 2025. With Jase McClellan waived before camp, the RB3 spot is currently held by former UDFA Carlos Washington Jr. He’s got the clear advantage thanks to his tenure with the team, but UDFA Nate Carter is one to watch.

Tight End - 3

Kyle Pitts
Charlie Woerner
Teagan Quitoriano

Kyle Pitts has been on a snap limit, but is showing a clear connection with Penix, who has targeted him early and often throughout training camp. Charlie Woerner retains his 2024 role as the primary blocking tight end. TE3 appears to be held pretty securely by Teagan Quitoriano, a former fifth-round pick of the Houston Texans. He’s been an efficient receiver and solid blocker, and has played quite a bit with the starters when Pitts has been sidelined.

Wide Receiver - 6

Drake London
Darnell Mooney
Ray-Ray McCloud
KhaDarel Hodge
Jamal Agnew
Chris Blair

The good news is that Drake London and Ray-Ray McCloud have been awesome thus far, with London clearly in line to be Penix’s favorite target. Darnell Mooney was injured on the first day of camp going up for a deep catch in the endzone, and it’s anyone’s guess when he’ll return. Week 1 seems likely, but the team has been vague about the nature of the injury and Mooney’s timeline.

In Mooney’s absence, the Falcons have rotated a number of receivers with the first team. KhaDarel Hodge, Jamal Agnew, Chris Blair, and David Sills Jr. have been the biggest beneficiaries thus far. Hodge and Agnew are safe, as both are key special teams players—although Agnew does seem to have something to offer as a receiver as well. Chris Blair has a good connection with Penix and Cousins and should be the favorite for WR6 at the moment. David Sills Jr. has been the biggest surprise of this group so far, as he’s been Cousins’ favorite target and has quickly worked his way into the starting rotation. UDFA Nick Nash has been climbing the ranks of the UDFA receivers and is frequently working with the 2nd-team, but looks like a long shot for the 53-man roster at this junction.

Offensive Line - 9

LT Jake Matthews
LG Matthew Bergeron
C Ryan Neuzil
RG Chris Lindstrom
RT Kaleb McGary

T Storm Norton
G/T Elijah Wilkinson
G Kyle Hinton
C Jovaughn Gwyn

Not much of note with the starters, although the starting offensive line has performed quite well overall. Ryan Neuzil has looked stout as a blocker, although there have been a few errant snaps through the first week. Most of the intrigue is with the depth unit, which has struggled against Atlanta’s starters—particularly on the interior. Storm Norton is clearly the top tackle, but it’s actual been Brandon Parker primarily working with the 2s.

In terms of the roster, I think I value Elijah Wilkinson and Kyle Hinton over Parker at this stage. I don’t think Jovaughn Gwyn has played particularly well, but there’s literally no other compelling options. A veteran backup at center seems likely before Week 1. Rookie Jack Nelson has gotten a little run with the 2s, but seems firmly behind Norton and Parker at this stage. He’ll need to show out in the preseason to claim a spot on the 53, which is still very possible.

DEFENSE - 26

Edge Defender - 6

Arnold Ebiketie
Leonard Floyd
Jalon Walker
James Pearce Jr.
Khalid Kareem
Bralen Trice

This group has been a very pleasant surprise thus far, even with rookie Jalon Walker missing half the practices. That’s thanks to fellow rookie James Pearce Jr. arguably being the star of training camp, with consistent disruption (both in terms of production and attitude) against the starting offensive line. He looks better than advertised and could claim a significant role early on.

The other nice surprise has been Khalid Kareem, who joined the practice squad last season. He’s been a consistently good player on the edge and has even rotated in with the starters at times. Kareem has been playing ahead of Bralen Trice and absolutely looks deserving of a spot on the 53. Speaking of Trice, he looks healthy and has been steadily climbing the depth chart. He appears of the verge of cracking the 2nd team rotation, which he’ll need to do to secure a roster spot. I still feel confident he’ll make the team.

Interior Defensive Line - 6

David Onyemata
Ruke Orhorhoro
Morgan Fox
Zach Harrison
Brandon Dorlus
Kentavius Street

I’ve reshuffled the position labels of some of these players with the Falcons sticking to roughly 75% 3-4 fronts through the first week of training camp. David Onyemata is the starting 1T nose tackle and has played the majority of snaps there. Given the absence of any compelling competition, it seems clear he’ll be on the roster Week 1. Ruke Orhorhoro has been the most impressive player on the interior thus far, making plays from a variety of alignments. He’s been everything we could hope for and would be my pick to be the best player on the interior.

Zach Harrison and Brandon Dorlus have also made their fair share of plays, and both are firmly in the 1st/2nd team rotation. Veteran Morgan Fox has played a lot with the starters but has had the quietest camp of the bunch, he may be usurped by Dorlus sooner than later. We may see Atlanta cut this group down to five if needed, but right now the sixth spot appears to be a battle between Ta’Quon Graham and Kentavius Street. Street’s advantage is that he seems to have bulked up to 315 to play nose tackle, and he’s the only other player capable of that role. Graham is more versatile and has made more plays thus far, so we’ll see how that plays out. This is also a spot where we could see the team look to add a more traditional NT after final cuts.

Linebacker - 4

Kaden Elliss
Divine Deablo
Troy Andersen
JD Bertrand

No changes so far to this group, although we haven’t had a chance to see Troy Andersen yet. Andersen spent the first week of camp on PUP but appears close to returning, which he’ll need to do at some point to secure his roster spot. Kaden Elliss and Divine Deablo are playing almost all the snaps at linebacker with the starters, with JD Bertrand and veteran Caleb Johnson playing with the second-team. As long as Andersen comes back soon, I don’t expect many changes here. If Andersen isn’t back or may not be able to start the season, this is definitely a spot for a veteran addition after final cuts.

Cornerback - 6

A.J. Terrell
Mike Hughes
Dee Alford
Natrone Brooks
Billy Bowman Jr.
Cobee Bryant

Perhaps the most interesting battle on the entire roster is taking place at cornerback, but it’s not the battle you might have expected. For starters, Dee Alford appears to be the favorite for the slot starting role after the first week. Billy Bowman is right behind him, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Bowman eventually overtake Alford—either during the preseason, or regular season. Instead, the biggest battle has been for the depth outside corner jobs, with a couple of surprising names making a big push.

Natrone Brooks, a college safety who converted to slot corner with the Falcons, is now playing almost exclusively on the outside. And he’s been good, as Brooks has frequently been matched up with Drake London. London’s gotten the better of him, but Brooks also had the first Penix interception of camp on Thursday and broke up a pass to London in the endzone on Tuesday. He looks to have a secure hold on a 53-man spot, and his flexibility to play in the slot only helps his case. Opposite Brooks, former UDFA Lamar Jackson has impressed with a flashy opening performance and consistent play. He’s got the size that Ulbrich is looking for on the outside, which might be why Clark Phillips III has largely been relegated to the depth unit.

Speaking of Phillips, I no longer think his roster spot is safe. He’s pretty clearly on the outside looking in at this point, and I’d argue that both Brooks and Jackson are ahead of him. I’m leaving Cobee Bryant on my roster over Phillips despite him only practicing for the first time on Tuesday, as I think Bryant will get every opportunity to make his case over the remainder of camp and preseason.

Safety - 4

Jessie Bates III
Xavier Watts
Jordan Fuller
DeMarcco Hellams

This room is absolutely rock-solid, and the battle between rookie Xavier Watts and veteran Jordan Fuller could come down to the wire. Watts and Fuller have rotated between the 1st and 2nd team throughout camp, and I’d expect that to continue for the time being. Both have looked solid, but haven’t had many opportunities to make an impact thanks to the strong play of both Penix and Cousins. DeMarcco Hellams has been very active with the 2nd team as well. I think all four of these players are roster locks. The only question is whether the Falcons want to roster a fifth safety, but none of the guys on the roster seem worth the spot at this stage.

SPECIAL TEAMS - 3

K Younghoe Koo

P Bradley Pinion

LS Liam McCullough

RETURNERS

KR Jamal Agnew/Ray-Ray McCloud

PR Jamal Agnew

The Falcons began the Great Kicking Competition during Sunday’s practice, with newcomer Lenny Krieg winning the first battle with aplomb. Tuesday’s practice was a dead heat, with both Krieg and Younghoe Koo going 4/5 and missing from beyond 50. If Krieg can keep this up, Koo’s roster spot is likely in danger thanks to his sky-high cap hit. Koo needs to win handily, but his history with the team and status as a fan favorite still give him the slight edge. This battle will likely be decided in the preseason.

PRACTICE SQUAD - 16

QB Emory Jones
RB Nate Carter
WR David Sills Jr.
WR Casey Washington
WR Nick Nash
TE Joshua Simon
T Brandon Parker
T Jack Nelson
C/G Joshua Gray
EDGE/LB DeAngelo Malone
DT Ta’Quon Graham
LB Caleb Johnson
CB Clark Phillips III
CB Lamar Jackson
DB Josh Thompson
K Lenny Krieg

What are your thoughts on this potential roster for the Falcons?

Ticking clock: Can Terry Fontenot build the Falcons into a contender before the salary cap crunch?

2025-08-01T08:00:00-04:00

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The arrow is pointing up for the Falcons thanks to Michael Penix, but hitting on the QB doesn’t solve all their problems.

The Atlanta Falcons hope they’re on a promising path to long-term success, which they aim to realize by the end of the 2025 season.

Over the weekend, both Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and owner Arthur Blank expressed their optimism about the current state of the Falcons. Yet despite that rosy outlook about the team’s present, their future is in flux. So much rests on the team’s ability to realize Fontenot’s long-term vision and plan, which has been five years in the making, with their first playoff berth since 2017.

The foundation of the team’s long-term success rests on the successful development of quarterback Michael Penix. If the Falcons have their next franchise quarterback, it will do wonders to stabilize their future, mirroring their past success with Matt Ryan under center.

However, hitting on the quarterback doesn’t erase or mitigate the many challenges facing Fontenot and the Falcons in the future. Much like Ryan did when he played under defensive-minded head coaches for all but one of his 14 seasons in Atlanta, Penix faces similar circumstances with head coach Raheem Morris currently at the helm.

Coordinator turnover could lead to an unstable offense

Ryan saw each of his first three offensive coordinators hired away to become head coaches elsewhere, introducing instability into the offense due to the vacillating quality of play-calling. Penix’s immediate success increases the potential that current play-caller Zac Robinson departs Atlanta soon, especially given the voracious appetite for offensive-minded head coaches in today’s NFL.

One strategy the Falcons could employ to increase the odds of retaining future successors to Robinson would be to target retread head coaches to call plays. Given the league’s craving for young, up-and-coming offensive minds, targeting older play-callers who have failed in previous head coaching stints could prove advantageous.

These candidates currently include Mike McCarthy, Frank Reich, Pat Shurmur, and Jay Gruden. They’d be less likely to get poached down the road if they succeed in Atlanta. However, the potential trade-off for prolonged stability at offensive coordinator may come from having offenses that are far from the cutting edge.

For example, Gruden worked with Morris during their shared days with Washington in 2014 when the former was the head coach. Yet, Gruden’s most recent experience as a play-caller came with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, resulting in a 1-15 record thanks in part to a 27th-ranked offense according to DVOA. Given how much team success is driven by offensive output in the modern NFL, a resume like Gruden’s at first glance doesn’t offer the firepower that will keep the Falcons in annual playoff contention.

Falcons’ future could be fueled by a defense-driven identity

Instead, the Falcons’ best chance at perennial contention may be mirroring the success of the Pittsburgh Steelers under defensive-minded head coach Mike Tomlin, especially during his 15 seasons coaching quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. That blueprint rested on a Steelers defense that consistently ranked among the elite in the NFL.

Even with the optimism surrounding the current upward direction of the Falcons’ defense under new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, they appear years away from producing a unit that can consistently rank in the top 10. Such a defense-forward foundation will develop if the recent 2024 and 2025 defensive draft investments made by Fontenot pay off. Such a realization would be a historic achievement for Fontenot, given that steadfast defense has rarely been the Falcons’ identity throughout their history. Yet, in the meantime, the team’s offense will be at the vanguard of any impending success.

Upcoming extensions on offense could crush the team’s salary cap

The Falcons expect a potent, high-powered offense for several years to come, thanks to Penix being flanked by wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, who are all on the verge of entering their primes. Both London and Robinson are due for long-term extensions over the next few offseasons if they can maintain their current rate of production.

Yet, top-of-market extensions for London and Robinson will also have their drawbacks, thanks to an impending salary cap crunch, which will only intensify when it comes time to pay Penix down the road. With current trends, Penix could be due for a massive extension before the 2028 season. While a few years away, it’ll be here sooner than you realize, giving Fontenot only a few offseasons to ready the roster.

Between now and then, the market for quarterbacks is only likely to balloon past Dak Prescott’s $60 million-per-year deal, which currently makes him the NFL’s highest-paid player. Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, and C.J. Stroud may each have opportunities to reset the quarterback market between now and 2028. Not to mention, Jordan Love and Kyler Murray could sign new deals that also raise prices, even if they don’t reset the top of the market. Combined with the competition between Penix and the other passers drafted atop the 2024 NFL Draft in a bid to outdo one another on their second contracts, there are several factors potentially increasing the cost of any future Penix extension.

Fontenot will have to transform his approach to the draft

With so much future cap space potentially locked into a handful of players, the Falcons’ long-term salvation will rest on Fontenot’s ability to continuously offset their cost by adding good, cheap players via the draft. However, his aggressive strategy of trading up in almost every draft is undoubtedly counterproductive. With the team only slated with five selections in the upcoming 2026 draft, Fontenot is going to have to reconsider his current approach. Accumulating more picks by trading back is the best way to maximize the team’s chances of finding more young, inexpensive talent to rebuild the defense, reload along the offensive line, and support Penix with more firepower at the skill positions.

That novel strategy may be set in motion soon with the Falcons’ potential need to replace multiple starters and contributors set to hit free agency in 2026. Tyler Allgeier, Arnold Ebiketie, Kaden Elliss, Leonard Floyd, Ray-Ray McCloud, Kaleb McGary, David Onyemata, and Kyle Pitts are among those set to become free agents after this season. A successful 2025 campaign will incentivize the Falcons to re-sign many of their impending free agents, thereby maintaining continuity and preventing immediate regression following a potential return to the playoffs this year. However, with the Falcons currently projected by OvertheCap.com to have less than $1 million in cap space entering next offseason, the team will be forced to be economical with its spending for another offseason.

An unsuccessful 2025 season could lead to the dismissal of Fontenot, tasking a new general manager with fulfilling these same challenges of building around Penix.

As Blank noted on Saturday, every NFL owner feels great about their respective team at this point in the calendar:

“I like where we are. But you’re probably going to get 31 other owners who will probably say that. But I feel strongly that we’re in a different place than we’ve been in the last few years.”

But the pivotal question will be how ownership feels about the team several months from now, which will reflect Fontenot and others’ job security. Eventually, we’ll have our answer. But in the meantime, winning is the Falcons’ only panacea for all their future ailments. Simply put, if the Falcons can’t find a way to field a winner in Fontenot’s fifth year, then these will be somebody else’s problems.