The two-quarterback approach didn’t work out the way the Atlanta Falcons were hoping. Now, with the way the season ended, it seems certain that Michael Penix Jr. will be Atlanta’s starting quarterback moving forward.
As a result, the focus this offseason has to be on finding some weapons to build around Penix. One analyst believes making a splash in the 2025 NFL Draft is the way forward.
Atlanta Falcons Predicted To Add Technical Playmaker With Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons relied heavily on the running game to build out a steady offense, finishing with a unit that ranked 10th in the NFL in PFSN’s Offense+ metric. A big chunk of that was thanks to running back Bijan Robinson, who had a phenomenal season.
Tallying 1,456 rushing yards, Robinson crossed the 1,800 scrimmage-yard mark on the season, while adding 15 total touchdowns as well. Yet, despite his proficiency, Atlanta’s passing offense was far from lethal.
Some of that was on the struggles of Kirk Cousins, but beyond Drake London and Darnell Mooney, the team didn’t have consistent pass catchers, which is where PFSN’s Joe DeLeone believes the Falcons should focus in the 2025 NFL Draft.
While DeLeone has Atlanta adding help to a defense that ranked among the bottom five in Round 1, he believes the man to go after in the second round at No. 46 overall is Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Xavier Restrepo.
“Xavier Restrepo was a technician as a route runner this year for Miami, constantly getting open for Cam Ward to find him for huge chunk plays. His skill set in the slot is a missing piece for this Falcons receiving unit.”
In each of the last two seasons, Restrepo has gone over 1,000 receiving yards with his final year producing career-best numbers with 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. With a 16.3 yards-per-attempt average, his efficiency on each reception is something to behold.
With a dynamic offense featuring a mixed dose of pass and run options, the Falcons could take another jump forward. But making both options viable will require some strong work in rebuilding the passing game — and adding Restrepo should be the first step in that direction.