The Atlanta Falcons are in an interesting position, having lost Michael Penix Jr. for the remainder of the 2025 season to a knee injury. Now, the franchise is facing the prospect of again being in the market for a quarterback two years after spending top assets to add both Penix and Kirk Cousins. The veteran Cousins will get the starts the rest of the way and have a chance to prevent the Falcons from entering the quarterback market.
If Cousins can play at a high level for the final seven games of the season, all of a sudden, the Falcons will have a very different conversation. However, if the signal caller plays at the level he has for much of the last year, there is no question the Falcons will need to move on and bring in some insurance. With this in mind, let's look at the most enticing options that would provide upside without a huge commitment.
1. Malik Willis
Already, there has been speculation that the Falcons are a potential fit for the current Green Bay Packers backup. In the eight games that Malik Willis has appeared in for Green Bay, the Packers have a 6-2 record with the Liberty product flashing elite ability to create with his legs and a surprising arm. Add in the fact that Willis is originally from Georgia, and the move simply makes far too much sense not to explore in the offseason.
Even if Cousins were to play at a high level, you still would have the opportunity to consider the signing with Willis poised to become a free agent at the end of the year. The quarterback could be enticed to return home with a chance to start, with Penix's path back remaining very much in question.
Willis is the perfect bridge starter in the fact that he is an unknown with possible upside. The starter hasn't had enough reps since joining head coach Matt LaFleur's team to fully know his ceiling. It would be a cheap investment with high upside for the Falcons.
2. Jimmy Garoppolo
As uninspiring as this option might be to Atlanta fans, it is important to remember just how much the quarterback accomplished in San Francisco. Yes, there is no question that the elite coaching propped up his level of play, but the postseason experience and starting reps at such a cheap price remain somewhat enticing. If the Falcons are forced to part ways with Cousins and wait for the return of Penix, Jimmy Garoppolo makes sense.
The veteran signal-caller has played in two Super Bowls and offers a level of stability, even if there is a clear ceiling at this stage of his career. The Falcons are in such an odd position, not knowing the injury future of Penix and lacking their own first-round pick in 2026, making Garoppolo the perfect safety blanket if there aren't any clear-cut better options.
Garoppolo offers you at least a small shot at finding solid production at a fraction of the cost. With this in mind, he's at least worth a flyer if Atlanta fans have stability and a known commodity under center.
3. Jameis Winston
As erratic as the quarterback might there is no denying that having a Jameis Winston-led offense for the first weeks of the 2026 season would be as entertaining as the Atlanta offense has been in a long while. Winston is going to turn the ball over consistently, but never fails to entertain, pushing the ball down the field and finding ways to score.
The veteran missile launcher would pile up points with the current group of Falcons' weapons and at least offer a bit of entertainment in what has been a shockingly bland offense. No question, Winston is near the top of potential fits when considering what direction the Falcons could go that would give them a chance to win games without blocking Penix from returning.
Already, Winston has made one start with the New York Giants this season in a 27-20 loss against the Green Bay Packers, only throwing for 201 yards without a TD. The Falcons have better weapons than the Giants, so it isn't hard to imagine the ex-Florida State Seminole having much more success in an ATL uniform, making Winston an option worth exploring.