'Everything Is On the Table' for Falcons with Kirk Cousins, Penix Jr., Says HC Morris

Less than two years after signing Kirk Cousins and drafting Michael Penix Jr., the Atlanta Falcons are preparing to enter an offseason with a lot of quarterback uncertainty.

Head coach Raheem Morris told reporters on Wednesday that "everything is on the table" when asked about the team's future at quarterback.

The Falcons were already in a state of unrest at the position going into 2026. Penix had season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn ACL in his left knee on Nov. 19.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport noted at the time that a standard nine-month recovery period would have Penix back on the field around mid-August, so he could potentially be ready for Week 1.

Even if the Falcons get Penix healthy before the start of the 2026 regular season, his performance in 12 starts since his rookie year doesn't inspire confidence that he's a long-term solution.

The Falcons are 4-8 in those 12 starts, while Penix has thrown for 2,719 yards, 12 touchdowns, six interceptions and completed 59.6 percent of his attempts. He has the highest percentage of bad throws this season by any quarterback (24.0).

Cousins hasn't been much better since being thrust back into a starting role after Penix's injury. The four-time Pro Bowler has thrown for 968 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and a 63.8 completion percentage in his last four starts.

There is a world where either or both of them could be back on the roster in 2026. Penix will be entering the third year of his rookie contract and only has a cap hit of $6.2 million, so it's easy to envision a scenario where he remains on the Falcons.

Cousins' situation is more complicated because he hasn't looked good in his two seasons with the Falcons and they could save up to $35 million against the cap by releasing him in the offseason.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, there don't appear to be many great alternative options for them to choose from. Drafting a top-tier prospect is out of the equation because their first-round pick—currently No. 10 overall—will go to the Los Angeles Rams.

The list of potential trade and free-agent candidates could include Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Aaron Rodgers, Mac Jones, Spencer Rattler, Anthony Richardson and Geno Smith.

Richardson, by virtue of his age and raw physical talent, might be the most intriguing player from that group. But he has been among the least accurate quarterbacks in the league when he started for the Indianapolis Colts.

Murray's 2025 has been plagued by poor play and injuries. Tagovailoa and Rattler have been benched by their teams. Smith has had a disastrous year with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Rodgers is physically limited at 42 years old and previously teased this could be his final season. Jones could be difficult to pry away from the San Francisco 49ers given how well he played in eight starts when Brock Purdy was injured.

One thing that has been made certain from this season is the Falcons need to change a lot before they can be regarded as a playoff contender in the NFC. They have already clinched a losing record for the eighth consecutive year.