Quarterback battles are a staple of NFL training camps, and four camps have emerged as focal points entering 2026: Atlanta, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Minnesota. League sources were contacted to assess how these competitions might unfold after spring OTAs and minicamps.
Atlanta features a matchup between former first-round selections Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa amid major front-office and coaching changes. Penix was the No. 8 overall pick in 2024; the Falcons have since replaced general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Raheem Morris with Ian Cunningham and Kevin Stefanski, respectively, and added Matt Ryan as president of football.
Penix took over late in the 2024 season after Kirk Cousins struggled, starting the final three games. He opened 2025 as Atlanta’s starter but suffered an ACL tear in November, his third such injury. Penix has made 12 career NFL starts, with the Falcons winning four, completing 59.6 percent of his passes for 2,757 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions, and adding two rushing scores.
Tagovailoa was the No. 5 pick in 2020 and owns a 44-32 career record, a 68.0 completion percentage, 120 passing touchdowns and 59 interceptions. He led the league in passing yards in 2023 and in completion percentage in 2024 but was benched late in the 2025 season and released despite $54 million in guaranteed money remaining on his contract. The Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a veterans-minimum deal after the Dolphins remained responsible for the guarantee. He is healthy heading into camp while Penix is still recovering.
The quarterback competition in Atlanta is expected to be shaped significantly by Penix’s health. “Penix being hurt isn’t just a bad break for him,” an NFC personnel executive said, noting past college durability concerns. A couple of league sources said the Falcons may want to get Penix on the field at some point this season to evaluate him ahead of a potential fifth-year option decision in May.
