The Atlanta Falcons have arguably the deepest quarterback room in the NFL. Ahead of the 2024 NFL season, Raheem Morris and Co. made bold moves to solidify the position.
Over the offseason, Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal. Then, to many people’s surprise, the Falcons selected former Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. In April 2025, the team signed Easton Stick as the QB3 in Atlanta.
Cousins started for the Falcons last season, but was benched after 14 games, and Penix Jr. got the opportunity to lead the team. The latter is now Atlanta’s starting quarterback for the upcoming season.
Let’s break down each quarterback on the Falcons’ depth chart entering the 2025 season.
Who Are the Atlanta Falcons’ Quarterbacks in 2025?
The Falcons find themselves in a good spot heading into 2025 with a deep quarterback room. As a starter, Penix will have more opportunities to shine. Here’s a closer look at the four quarterbacks on the Falcons’ roster:
Michael Penix Jr.
Penix was among the most talked-about quarterbacks in college football before the 2024 NFL Draft, thanks to his successful run with the Huskies under coach Kalen DeBoer.
Penix was DeBoer’s starting quarterback for all 15 games in 2023 and a crucial cog in the 14-1 run that culminated in a spot in the CFP National Championship Game, where Washington ultimately lost to Michigan.
After getting drafted by the Falcons, Penix started three games for the Falcons in his rookie season. The team went 1-2 with him, and he threw for 775 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing 58.1% of his throws.
The Falcons have faith in the 25-year-old quarterback, and they expect him to take a leap with the help of playmakers like Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.
Kirk Cousins
After spending six years with the Minnesota Vikings, Cousins decided to ink a four-year contract with the Falcons that will guarantee him $90 million at signing. In addition to the big paycheck that was offered to Cousins, he predicted that Minnesota would draft a quarterback and eventually replace him.
This made things rather awkward when the Falcons drafted Penix during the 2024 NFL Draft. This unexpected move reportedly left the quarterback “disappointed and shocked.”
Cousins was under the microscope in 2024 as he returned following a torn Achilles injury. Since there was added pressure with a talented prospect like Penix as his backup, he was eventually benched later in the season.
In the 14 games he started for them last season, Cousins threw for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. He was expected to get traded this past offseason, but the Falcons found no suitors. There is still a possibility that the 36-year-old quarterback will get moved by Atlanta, but until then, he will serve as Penix’s backup.
Easton Stick
Stick will serve as the Falcons’ QB3 as long as Cousins is on the roster. He has six NFL appearances, all coming while he was with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Stick has also started four games in the NFL, and the Chargers went 0-4. The Chargers selected him as a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and so far in his career, he has thrown for 1,133 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while completing 63.8% of his throws.
He may not be the best option as Penix’s backup, but he is a perfect third quarterback for any team. He is expected to play significant minutes for the Falcons in the preseason.
Emory Jones
The Falcons also have Emory Jones on their roster. The 25-year-old quarterback signed with Atlanta’s practice squad last season after being waived by the Baltimore Ravens.
He signed another reserve/future contract with the Falcons in January 2025 and will likely remain on the practice squad as long as Penix, Cousins, and Stick are healthy and on the team.
Previewing Falcons vs. Titans Preseason Week 2 Game
The Atlanta Falcons come into Week 2 of the preseason following a 17-10 loss to the Detroit Lions last week. Starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is unlikely to play against the Tennessee Titans, but it will be an excellent opportunity for other players to make a positive impact.
The Falcons have a pretty good roster, and anything less than making the playoffs will be a failure for them this season. As a result, their players need to step up in the remaining preseason games and be ready to start on a high note in Week 1 against the Buccaneers.
The Titans lost 29-7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their preseason opener. However, their first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cam Ward, impressed everyone despite not playing much.
Against the Buccaneers, he completed 5/8 of his throws for 67 yards. People around the league are high on the Titans’ rookie, and it will be interesting to see how he plays against the Falcons on Friday night.
The Titans’ fans and organization will be happy even if the team has a poor record as long as Ward has a stellar rookie season. Head coach Brian Callahan is under pressure, and a poor season from the rookie quarterback could cost him his job. Hopefully, he will get the best out of Ward, similar to what he did with Joe Burrow during his time in Cincinnati.
