Once the Atlanta Falcons release quarterback Kirk Cousins on the first day of the new league year they will be in the market for a backup quarterback, and earlier today The Morning Shift explained why Joe Flacco makes the most sense to be Falcons next backup QB.
“Joe Flacco seems to be the name to me that makes the most sense because I’ve said it all along my number one goal for the Falcons offensively this year is to figure out what Michael Penix is as a starting quarterback or not as a starting quarterback, and some of the names that keep being floated around come from a sector of this fanbase that have latched themselves onto the idea that Michael Penix is not the guy, and I don’t think the franchise is gonna treat it like that.” Mike Johnson said
Mike finishes his thought by saying “I think if you bring in Tua [Tagovailoa], Tua’s coming in to “compete for the starting job”. I think if you make a trade for a [Jacoby] Brissett or a Mac Jones they’re coming in to start. You’re not giving up draft capital to bring in a backup quarterback, so I just keep looking at this as an opportunity for us to figure out what Michael Penix is and Joe Flacco just seems to make the most sense of the names we’ve heard.”
Michael Penix Jr. is still very early in his career and hasn’t even been able to start for a full season yet, and even though new Falcons General Manager Ian Cunningham and new Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski aren’t tied to Penix Jr. because they didn’t draft him they know about the talent and potential he has, and they won’t be ready to give up on the former eighth overall pick without at least giving him a chance first, and that’s why Flacco makes the most sense to be the Falcons next backup QB.
Flacco is a veteran quarterback who isn’t expecting to be a starting quarterback, knows Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees’ offense, can help Penix Jr. learn the offense and mentor him, can start and play at a high enough level to help the team win games if called upon, especially at the beginning of the season if Michael isn’t ready to start week one because of his ACL injury last season. Everything lines up too perfectly for the Falcons not to sign Joe Flacco to be their backup quarterback.