"The Falcons' challenge will be their need to evaluate Penix for another year to see whether he's their long-term answer at quarterback. Complications arise since Penix is coming off another season-ending knee injury, which makes it unlikely that he'll hit the ground running whenever he gets back on the field. The injury means he'll spend his offseason rehabbing rather than taking the critical reps he needs in practice to improve."
"That pushes the Falcons to give Penix two years of evaluation rather than one. Similar to how Cousins looked better a second year removed from his 2023 Achilles tear, Penix should look much better in 2027 in his second season removed from his recent partial ACL tear. Coupled with having a full year to learn Stefanski's offense and a full offseason to master it, 2027 sets up to be a pivotal year for Penix's future."
"At this rate, it could also be the final year of his rookie contract, since picking up Penix's fifth-year option for the 2028 season appears unlikely given all the current concerns. If Penix doesn't break out in 2027 and show that he is a viable long-term solution for the team's quarterback conundrum, it could put Stefanski in the same boat that ultimately doomed both Smith and Morris: going into a make-or-break 2028 season with a brand new quarterback."
Previous Falcons coaching failures stemmed from putting teams on incorrect quarterback timelines, with Arthur Smith and Raheem Morris each entering crucial third seasons with inexperienced starters. Michael Penix returns from a season-ending partial ACL tear and will miss valuable offseason reps while rehabbing, limiting immediate development. The Falcons should plan on two years of evaluation for Penix, with 2027 as the pivotal season for on-field progression after a full year in the offense and a complete offseason. The team is unlikely to pick up Penix's fifth-year option, and failure to break out by 2027 could force a quarterback reset in 2028.
Read at The Falcoholic
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