The Atlanta Falcons still have a major question to settle before opening the 2026 season. Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa entered the starting quarterback competition with clear reasons to be considered, but an unexpected name has entered the conversation.
With the team yet to officially name its starter, league expectations around Atlanta’s quarterback room remain unusually uncertain.
NFL Executive Floats Jack Strand as Falcons’ Surprise QB Choice
Undrafted rookie Jack Strand has emerged as a surprising candidate in the Falcons’ quarterback discussion after an NFL executive suggested he could eventually win the job.
The Minnesota State Moorhead product currently sits fourth on the depth chart behind Penix, Tagovailoa, and Cooper Rush, making the prediction especially unexpected.
Mike Sando of The Athletic included the assessment in a poll of NFL executives ranking NFC teams ahead of the 2026 season. While discussing Atlanta’s quarterback uncertainty, one executive said, “It might be the (Jack) Strand kid who winds up with that job.”
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Strand’s rise in the conversation comes after an impressive preseason. The 6-foot-5 quarterback was arguably Atlanta’s most impressive signal-caller across its three exhibition games and brings extensive college production from his time with Moorhead.
That performance matters because Atlanta’s more established options have dealt with their own questions. Penix has not appeared in the preseason while recovering from his third major ACL tear, although he has been cleared for contact and has resumed limited 11-on-11 work in recent practices.
The Falcons have viewed Penix as their long-term answer, but his health and readiness remain central to the decision. If he handles the final practices well, he is expected to have the inside track for the Week 1 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Tagovailoa entered Atlanta as a veteran option who could start while Penix recovered. However, his preseason did not produce the early separation the Falcons hoped to see, leaving his role less certain than initially expected.
The unusual quarterback situation has also influenced Atlanta’s roster planning, a team that ranked 20th in PFN’s NFL Offense Impact Rankings last season.
General manager Ian Cunningham confirmed that the Falcons are keeping four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster as an insurance measure, reflecting concerns about both performance and health.
Atlanta remains the only NFL team that has not officially announced its Week 1 quarterback. The team has indicated that its starter is scheduled to speak at a Wednesday news conference, giving the Falcons a clear point for ending the uncertainty.
Until then, Strand’s name adds another twist to a competition that was expected to center on Penix and Tagovailoa. An undrafted rookie winning the job remains a remote outcome, but the executive’s prediction shows how unsettled Atlanta’s quarterback picture has become.
