Several young quarterbacks may have reached tipping points.
Following Week 10 losses, the Falcons, Panthers, Browns and Vikings might be considering next season’s options. Below, we take a closer look at each rough performance, plus a truly horrific late-afternoon window.
During the 2024 offseason, the Falcons spent $100M and a first-round pick to solve their quarterback conundrum. Less than two years later, and Atlanta is still searching for a solution.
Penix, the No. 8 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, was mostly ineffective in a 31-25 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts (8-2), which extended the Falcons’ losing streak to four games. The second-year quarterback completed less than half of his pass attempts, finishing 12-of-28 for 177 yards and a touchdown while also losing a fumble. Penix was atrocious on third downs, going 1-of-5 for negative-four yards while also losing 20 yards on two sacks, one resulting in a lost fumble and the other a 12-yarder in overtime that forced Atlanta to punt from deeper in its territory, giving Indianapolis possession 57 yards from the end zone.
Sunday marked Penix’s 12th career start, and he’s shown a concerning lack of progress. He’s one of the league’s least accurate quarterbacks, completing 58.8% of his pass attempts after Week 10’s loss, the third-worst completion rate in the league, ahead of only rookies Cam Ward and Dillon Gabriel.
Atlanta has a gifted set of playmakers, led by wide receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson, but until Penix takes a leap, the Falcons (3-6) will remain an afterthought. If he doesn’t, it could set the franchise back years. Atlanta doesn’t hold its 2026 first-round pick, and fourth-year pro London will soon be owed a massive extension. Robinson, in Year 3, will follow shortly thereafter. Getting Penix right is imperative for the Falcons, but with each passing week, it’s looking more and more like signing Cousins wasn’t their biggest mistake two offseasons ago.
Young continues to take steps backward after a promising end to 2024. On Sunday, he was outplayed by New Orleans Saints rookie Tyler Shough, making his second career start, in a 17-7 home loss. Young didn’t handle Saints pressure well, and the Panthers (5-5) ended with 102 net passing yards. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick also threw an ugly interception, badly under-throwing rookie wideout Tetairoa McMillan.
