Latest news with #MichaelPenixJr
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9 hours ago
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Falcons fail to crack top 10 in Pro Football Focus' receiving corps rankings
The Atlanta Falcons have committed considerable resources to their offense in recent years, spending four consecutive top-10 picks on skill position players. While the offense hasn't exactly taken off in recent years, there's reason to believe things will be different in 2025. Second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. appears to be set up for success in his first year starting. If Penix performs at the level many believe he's capable of, the Falcons offense should be among the NFL's top units this season. Advertisement One thing working to the young quarterback's advantage is the team's receiving corps. There's no shortage of options for Penix to throw to. Drake London and Darnell Mooney are one of the top wide receiver duos, combining for 2,263 yards last season. Atlanta's receiving corps just barely missed the top 10 in PFF's rankings, landing as the No. 11 ahead of the 2025 NFL season: Drake London came in at No. 11 in PFF's wide receiver rankings after garnering a 90.1 PFF receiving grade in 2024, which ranked fifth among wide receivers. Bijan Robinson's 82.2 PFF receiving grade placed fifth among running backs who played at least 100 receiving snaps, and Darnell Mooney's 74.6 mark was one of the more underrated performances from a WR2 this past year. If the Falcons can get anything at all from Kyle Pitts, this becomes a very diverse group. -- Trevor Sikkema, PFF While there's no shame in being ranked 11th, a case could be made that the Falcons have a top-five receiver group. London has shown a ton of growth over his first few seasons, and Mooney finished with 992 receiving yards despite missing the season finale in 2024. If you factor in the pass-catching ability of running back Bijan Robinson, the team's overall depth at wide receiver -- including Pro Bowl wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge -- and the potential of fifth-year tight end Kyle Pitts, there's only a handful of teams with more weapons. Advertisement Despite having essentially just one proven receiver in D.J. Moore, the Chicago Bears are ranked ahead of the Falcons at No. 9. The group obviously has some upside with first-round picks Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze, but it feels like the ranking is based more on potential than reality. At the end of the day, the Falcons have to feel good about their offense. With a solid offensive line and numerous weapons, Penix is set up for success in his first season starting for Atlanta. This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons receiving corps ranked outside of top 10 by PFF
Yahoo
9 hours ago
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Robert Griffin III says Michael Penix Jr. will be NFL's 'breakout QB' of 2025
After several mediocre seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have a real shot to turn things around in 2025. While we've seen this team compete for the NFC South title in recent years, Atlanta hasn't made the playoffs since 2017. Second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will be at the helm of whatever success the Falcons have this season. The former No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft started just three games for Atlanta last season but will enter 2025 as the team's unquestioned starter. Advertisement Despite Penix's lack of experience, former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst Robert Griffin III believes the Falcons quarterback is on the verge of a "breakout" season. Griffin, or "RGIII" as most know him as, noted Penix's arm talent and ability to stand in the pocket in the face of the pass rush. The former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year believes these traits give Penix a solid foundation to build around as a quarterback. We've seen many great college quarterbacks struggle to adjust to the pass rush at the NFL level. Griffin noted Penix's impressive average of 17.3 yards per completion when under pressure last season. Griffin's comments come on the heels of praise also given by a former Falcons quarterback, Kurt Benkert, as he predicts Penix will break 5,000 all-purpose yards. Considering he isn't known for using his legs to get down field, a large portion of that would likely have to come through the air. Advertisement It's not just Penix's talent that has those around the NFL buying in. The young signal-caller's supporting cast should truly give him a chance to succeed this season. Drake London, Bijan Robinson and Darnell Mooney will present matchup problems for any opposing defense. Plus, fifth-year tight end Kyle Pitts is not someone to sleep on this season. Penix will be Pitts' fifth starting quarterback since joining the Falcons in 2021. So while a lot of people are quick to hammer the 24-year-old for not consistently putting up Pro Bowl numbers, having consistent quarterback play could be all he needs to succeed. This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons: RGIII says Michael Penix will be NFL's 'breakout QB'
Yahoo
4 days ago
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What To Know During The Atlanta Falcons Five-Week Break From Offseason Program Wrapping Up
What To Know During The Atlanta Falcons Five-Week Break From Offseason Program Wrapping Up originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Atlanta Falcons have wrapped up the team's offseason program and will have a five-week break before the start of training camp. Advertisement The offseason program isn't necessarily exciting, but it does give insight into the new arrivals on the field. This time is mainly used for individual drills, getting the brand new rookies acclimated to the practice times, when to eat, where to go to treatment, etc. The practices are more like glorified walkthroughs and do not provide much coverage information. The offense is set in stone, but with the overhaul that the defensive side of the football has seen, questions will remain about who will get the starting nod on defense at a couple of positions. Atlanta Falcons rookie Jalon Walker is shown during mini-camp in Flowery Branch. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Kirk Cousins did attend the three-day mandatory mini-camp and would speak to the media on day two. Cousins is a professional and did not slander anyone about the position that he is currently in. Instead, he chose the high road and stated that he had accepted his fate for now, and that, in February, he hoped to hold up a Lombardi Trophy. Advertisement He also stated that he would be there for Michael Penix Jr. as needed, but didn't want to be another voice in his ear while Penix Jr. tries to adapt to being the starter full-time. As it stands, Cousins doesn't have another option right now unless a team has a quarterback go down in camp and is desperate for a veteran quarterback. Retirement is an option, but Cousins feels he has plenty left in the tank. Atlanta has a tough five-week stretch to start the season, with four playoff teams last season. If Penix Jr. struggles, Cousins will be handed the reins. The only position battles during training camp mostly concern rookies and who will start and/or split time at certain positions. This will include a name like Cobee Bryant, who was signed as an UDFA, and whether he makes the team or not. If so, he will also require playing time. Three of the team's draft picks will start immediately. Those names include Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., Xavier Watts, and Billy Bowman. Bowman and Watts may battle it out for playing time, but it looks as if both Walker and Pearce Jr. will be coming off the edge in week one. Advertisement Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has a tall task: assembling a more aggressive defense than in years past. New arrivals such as veterans Divine Deablo and Leonard Floyd will also be names to watch in camp, who will want to contribute immediately being a starter. For Ulbrich, it is a necessary evil to have to pick and choose who has earned playing time, but it is a great problem to have on the flip side with the amount of depth the team has acquired. Related: Character Validation Underway For James Pearce Jr. In Atlanta Related: At What Point Would Atlanta Consider Going Back To Cousins If Penix Jr. Struggles? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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4 days ago
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Is The Drama Over At The QB Position For The Atlanta Falcons?...(For Now)
Is The Drama Over At The QB Position For The Atlanta Falcons?...(For Now) originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kirk Cousins showed up at the Atlanta Falcons' mandatory mini-camp and let his feelings be known professionally a couple of weeks ago. But is that the end of the quarterback controversy? Advertisement Honestly, there is no controversy. The relationship (at least in public) between Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins is perfectly fine. Behind closed doors, the story could always be different, but Cousins has always been a genuine guy and a great teammate. Falcons QB's Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins on the field during mandatory mini-camp. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images He stated that he would obviously like to start somewhere, but realizes that the market has all but dried up for him. He is a Falcon for now, and by the end of the season, if he is still in uniform, even in a backup role, he wants to be holding up a Lombardi Trophy. Things would have heated up for him if Aaron Rodgers had retired instead of signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At least, that was the plan. Cousins would have swallowed his pride and agreed to be the Steelers contingency plan if it meant being a starter somewhere. Advertisement For now, the only real option is for the New Orleans Saints to step in and agree to eat some of Cousins' contract money still owed to him by Atlanta after Derek Carr hung up his cleats. Outside of the Saints pulling the trigger or an injury occurring in training camp or during the season, the Falcons are perfectly content with having Cousins in a backup role. However, according to Spotrac, it does come with the financial strain of having the fifth-highest salary cap outlay at the quarterback position. Next season, Cousins' salary cap will rise to $57.5 million against a dead cap of $35 million. One way or another, he won't be on the roster in 2026. For now, the Falcons are relying heavily on Cousins to remain professional, supportive, and engaged, knowing that they will listen to offers for him to start elsewhere. Hoping that will be enough to keep him engaged in the event that he is thrust in with a Penix Jr. injury. Related: Atlanta Falcons WRs Darnell Mooney And Ray-Ray McCloud Look To Have A Breakout Season Related: Divine Deablo's Aggressive Nature Fits The Mold For The Atlanta Falcons' New Identity On Defense This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
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Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL Season Preview
Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL Season Preview originally appeared on Athlon Sports. [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine. Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] Advertisement The Atlanta Falcons will enter the Michael Penix Jr. era in 2025, and expectations are high for the 2024 first-round pick's ascent to the starting quarterback role in Flowery Branch. Second-year head coach Raheem Morris and fifth-year general manager Terry Fontenot both voice glowing confidence in their second-year man, as his three starts last season showed the kind of quarterback play Atlanta has searched for since trading Matt Ryan in 2022. However, the pressure is on for this Falcons regime to break a seven-season playoff drought and prove that Penix is the right guy to lead the franchise. If this team flounders in 2025, the results could be catastrophic for Morris and Fontenot as far as job security. If the team soars, Atlanta may win the NFC South and position itself as a meaningful contender for years to come. No pressure, right? In Penix they trust, and with Penix this team will sink or swim in 2025. More NFL team previews AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks Offense Quarterback Kirk Cousins built momentum as the 2024 season went on, only to falter in November and eventually be yanked from the lineup for Penix. The 2024 first-rounder out of Washington will assume starting duties for a Falcons offense that looked much more lively and prolific with him behind center. Penix went 1-2 as a starter, but his two losses came in overtime when his team didn't get the ball. While his game is still a work in progress, he flashed brilliance and exuded poise in his three starts. Overall, he threw for 775 yards with three touchdowns and three picks, though all of those turnovers arguably had much more to do with the receivers than the decisions Penix made. His floor is a solid starter, and his ceiling is top-10 quarterback. He showed both in his debut season. Bijan Robinson© Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Penix should allow Atlanta to run more play-action. Even if he isn't a natural runner, he possesses much more situational mobility than Cousins. Penix can also make every throw on the field, and his aggressive rocket of an arm should make him a fan favorite immediately. Even though growing pains are to be expected, he's already one of the most gifted pure passers in the NFL. His accuracy looked fairly improved, and he was able to attack the middle of the field much more than was schemed for him during his college days. Advertisement Penix won't have to do it alone. Running back Bijan Robinson rushed for a whopping 1,456 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Robinson and Tyler Allgeier (644 yards, three TDs in 2024) might comprise the most lethal running back duo in the NFL outside of the Detroit Lions. The wide receiver room once again features the electric Drake London, whose 1,271-yard, nine-touchdown 2024 season suggests he'll be one of the most productive receivers in the NFL this year. His three-game connection with Penix was absolutely sensational. Darnell Mooney proved himself to be a free-agent steal with 992 receiving yards and five touchdowns last fall, while Ray-Ray McCloud III outperformed expectations with 686 yards and a touchdown. KhaDarel Hodge should man the fourth wideout spot, while 2024 draft pick Casey Washington, 2025 undrafted free agent Nick Nash and return specialist Jamal Agnew should battle it out for roster spots. Kyle Pitts, Charlie Woerner and free-agent acquisition Feleipe Franks are the top candidates at tight end. On the offensive line, left tackle Jake Matthews, left guard Matthew Bergeron, right guard Chris Lindstrom and right tackle Kaleb McGary will all return to their starting posts. With center Drew Dalman leaving for the Chicago Bears, part-time 2024 starter Ryan Neuzil should assume that role. Defense The Falcons' defense has undergone a major renovation with new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich overseeing operations. Atlanta's biggest loss of the offseason was longtime defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who quickly signed with the Bears after the Falcons released him in March. Jarrett was the leader of the Falcons defense and its most senior member. Also gone are two splashy 2024 veteran additions, outside linebacker Matthew Judon and safety Justin Simmons. Both players had their moments, but neither quite performed to expectations. Advertisement The team has brought in plenty of help for its lethargic pass rush, the marquee additions being former San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Leonard Floyd and 2025 first-round picks Jalon Walker out of Georgia and James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee. The team will also get back 2024 third-round pick Bralen Trice, who missed all of his rookie year after tearing his ACL in the preseason. Those four players will join outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie and blitzing linebacker Kaden Elliss with the goal of transforming Atlanta's edge unit from a longtime weakness to one that constantly gets after the quarterback. Losing Jarrett was a blow to the defensive tackle room, but veteran David Onyemata looks to rebound from a down 2024. Two 2024 draft picks, Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus, also look poised to take on much bigger roles. Free-agent signee Morgan Fox, a former Los Angeles Charger, has been an effective pass-rusher in his career. Elliss leads a linebacker group that also features former Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo, 2022 second-round pick Troy Andersen and 2024 fifth-round pick JD Bertrand. Andersen has flashed some outstanding play on the field when healthy, but he's missed substantial time in 2023 and 2024. A healthy Andersen and Deablo living up to his new contract would go a long way in enabling this group bolster the middle of the defense. Walker will start his career as a pass-rusher, but he has experience dropping in coverage and playing off the ball. The secondary looks very promising, as elite starters in cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. and safety Jessie Bates III are joined by a pair of 2025 draft picks — Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts and Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. Watts could contend right away for the strong safety spot next to Bates with free-agent acquisition Jordan Fuller and veteran DeMarcco Hellams, while Bowman looks to contend with cornerbacks Dee Alford and Clark Phillips III for the nickelback spot. Advertisement Mike Hughes re-signed to be the primary outside corner opposite Terrell after playing well in 2024. Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. rejoins the Falcons as a depth piece and a special teams ace. Younghoe Koo Specialists Kicker Younghoe Koo struggled a bit in 2024 and missed time with a hip injury, which explains why the Falcons brought in international kicker Lenny Krieg in March. Those two will likely duke it out in camp, but a healthy Koo can absolutely keep his job. Punter Bradley Pinion and long-snapper Liam McCullough should return to their jobs without any competition. Agnew looks to be the favorite at punt and kickoff returner, which will give him an inside track to a wide receiver spot on the roster. Final Analysis The Falcons are relying on a major youth movement to ascend to the top of the NFC South for the first time since the 2016 season. How all these young players coalesce with the proven veterans on the roster, and how Morris and his staff adapt in 2025, will determine where Atlanta's season goes. Getting Penix settled in as a long-term starter and showing improvement on the defense would be huge wins. Advertisement Potential doesn't always turn into production, but if the Falcons can develop their young players, we'll be talking about this football team for years to come. The heat is on either way for Atlanta to start winning games. The future has to start now. More NFL team previews AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks Related: Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview Magazine Now Available This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
