The Atlanta Falcons' initial 53-man roster marked their first under new leadership, so it taught us a lot about the way Kevin Stefanski and Ian Cunningham are looking to build this team. And it's safe to say that their roster construction methods are a bit more unconventional compared to past regimes.
Cunningham and Stefanski got creative while playing the roster gymnastics game, making tough decisions such as rostering just two running backs and three edge rushers. But it's no secret the Falcons rostering four QBs is the most controversial outcome to come out of the roster release.
Atlanta opted to keep all four of Cooper Rush, Jack Strand, Tua Tagovailoa, and Michael Penix Jr. on the roster after Strand's breakout preseason. While addressing the media, Cunningham explained what the rationale was there: they didn't want to risk losing any of their signal-callers on waivers.
"If you let a guy like Cooper go, there's an opportunity he might get with another team," Cunningham said. "A guy like Strand, some team could have claimed him on waivers."
It makes sense why the Atlanta Falcons wanted to roster four QBs
You may not have to agree, but Ian Cunningham is right. With the way Jack Strand looked in the preseason, he almost certainly would've gotten claimed off waivers and the Falcons would've lost their developmental QB in a flash--so they had no choice but to keep him on the initial 53-man roster.
Cunningham revealed that the undrafted rookie has done an "admirable" job, and the team didn't want to subject him to waivers. They want to live in the present and the future with his development, and risking losing him is one way to ensure you'll never get to reap the rewards of such a high-upside QB.
And then Cooper Rush offers the room some veteran experience. Given both Michael Penix Jr.--who still isn't 100%-- and Tua Tagovailoa both have alarming injury histories, you don't want to force Strand into action sooner than necessary, and Rush was solid during the preseason as QB3.
It's incredibly difficult for a team like the Dirty Birds, who objectively have one of the weaker QB rooms in the NFL, to feel comfortable with where they stand the position. But Cunningham revealed despite rostering four, they're quite pleased with their depth at quarterback, and losing one of them on waivers would possibly change that sentiment.
Ian Cunningham and Kevin Stefanski have focused on reshaping this roster to their vision, and Stefanski has been one to roster four quarterbacks in the past. It's hard to be surprised at the development when continuity under center is the biggest question mark the Falcons face in 2026.
Right now, the only option at quarterback is to play the hand they're dealt with these four quality options and re-evaluate down the line--and this new regime realizes that.
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