After spending the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, the latest NFL rumors suggest they could be willing to trade QB Michael Penix Jr. during the 2026 campaign. Penix, a former first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and a Washington product, entered the league as an old rookie at 24-years-old. The Falcons originally took him when they signed veteran starter Kirk Cousins to a long-term deal in the same offseason. The young starter eventually won the starting job, but that could be in jeopardy this upcoming campaign.
After hiring head coach Kevin Stefanski, the starting QB job can go one way or the other. The 26-year-old will be contending with Tua Tagovailoa, whom the team signed to a one-year “prove it” deal. Unfortunately, The Athletic’s Josh Kendall painted a bleak picture of the former first-rounder’s future for a long-term deal. While the QB still has two years left on his current rookie deal, he faces an uphill battle against Tagovailoa.
“He has 12 starts, four wins, two 300-yard games and a 59.6 percent completion rate in his career. Fair or not, the decision clock on his future is already ticking,” Kendall stated. “So far, Penix has done nothing to justify picking up his fifth-year option, much less offering him a long-term deal.”
NFL Rumors
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NFL Rumors: Falcons Expected to Trade Top Pick During 2026 Season
A Trade When?
In 12 career starts, the now 26-year-old has led this team to a 4-8 record and now will have to prove himself in NFL Training Camp. With a new offensive system, the QB could be at a disadvantage, especially after releasing WR Darnell Mooney. While it’s not the end of the world as they still have Drake London and RB Bijan Robinson in the fold, any changes to this team could complicate things for Penix.
If the QB can’t beat out Tagovailoa for the starting job, don’t expect him to be riding the bench any longer. There would be plenty of teams waiting to see how he could fit in their offense, but what could it cost?
Trade Value Revealed
Nobody should expect Penix to be worth more than a fourth-round pick at this stage in his career. He isn’t like Mac Jones, who’s rumored to be costly if a team is interested. However, a fair return for Atlanta would make the team open to trading the former first-round bust. The QB still has a lot of life in him, so he could thrive with these three teams.
Possible Destinations
Indianapolis Colts
Despite re-signing Daniel Jones to a new two-year contract, the Indianapolis Colts have one of the worst QB rooms behind him. To avoid another Philip Rivers situation, it’d be beneficial to supplement Jones with a reliable, high-stakes backup. Penix may not have proven himself yet, but maybe in a new system, he could thrive as a pocket-passer. The QB won’t start, but he could if Jones goes down with another injury this upcoming campaign.
Baltimore Ravens
Meanwhile, back-to-back MVP Lamar Jackson is entering a crucial 2026 season under new head coach Jesse Minter. It will be the first time to see how he could thrive in the new offensive system. On the other hand, he’s waiting for a new deal, but he has the leverage in the negotiation talks. If the Baltimore Ravens miss the postseason this upcoming campaign, would it be worth hanging onto Jackson anymore?
The team won’t trade him unless necessary. They brought back Tyler Huntley to backup Jackson, but why not bring Penix to contend for the backup role? He isn’t starting, but the Falcons QB could learn plenty from Huntley and Jackson.
Los Angeles Rams
Although the Los Angeles Rams took Ty Simpson in this year’s first round of the NFL Draft, it doesn’t mean he’s necessarily the future of this starting offense. Matthew Stafford is back for at least another season, but could hang it up if the team wins a Super Bowl in 2027. Los Angeles has the roster to get it done, but this team could be left in good hands if it came down to Simpson, Penix and Stetson Bennett competing for the starting job in 2028.