The Atlanta Falcons' QB room figures to be much better after signing Tua Tagovailoa, but it's clear not everybody agrees with this sentiment. The Falcons are still believed to have one of the worst quarterback rooms in the NFL despite making one of the better value signings in free agency.
In his ranking of every quarterback room following the opening wave of free agency, FanSided's Christopher Kline ranked Atlanta's QB at 28th in the NFL where the Dirty Birds are sandwiched in between the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, which should piss every single Falcons fan off.
Placing the Dirty Birds near the bottom of the NFL is valid, it's how low Kline had them that is a bit confusing. Atlanta has no business being below an Arizona Cardinals team whose QB tandem is Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. At least the Falcons have a starting-caliber QB on the roster.
The Falcons' placement in FanSided's new QB room rankings is beyond disrespectful
Being below the Cardinals is one thing, but the Malik Willis-led Miami Dolphins is blasphemy. I can count on my hand how many good games Willis has had in his career, yet Penix and Tagovailoa are being shafted because of his pretty payday, which still has people fooled that he is a good QB.
I understand that Tagovailoa is coming off of a dismal 2025 campaign while Michael Penix Jr. 's health remains a massive red flag, but you can't tell me this is worse than an aging Kirk Cousins. The 28-year-old isn't far removed from his best football, while Penix is due to shine under this new regime.
Even off of a rough season, Tua was better than Minshew and Brissett have been in their entire careers. This isn't some career backup who the Falcons picked up off the street, this is a former Pro Bowler who took Miami to the playoffs twice. So yeah, this blatant disrespect is getting me angry.
Part of Kline's argument against Tua is that he won't be coached by Mike McDaniel or throwing to Tyreek Hill, or Jaylen Waddle anymore, but missed the memo that he's better off in this situation throwing to Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts with the best OL he's played with in Atlanta.
Besides, it isn't often a QB-needy team can sign a former Pro Bowler for the league minimum. The Alabama product still has plenty of red flags, but he's not guaranteed the starting job. Kevin Stefanski is equipped with two high-upside signal-callers who deserve the chance to turn their careers around.
Relative to the expectations of a former top-10 pick, Penix has been disappointing, but was never working with a coaching staff setting him up for success. Zac Robinson had no idea how to use him, let alone call an offense, but we have seen the 25-year-old display promise at QB time and time again.
At least Atlanta has an open QB competition where you can at least feel comfortable with whoever starts given the circumstances. I would have them low on my list too, but at the very least, the Falcons should be a couple spots higher on a list like this.