The Falcons continue to do the right thing in regards to their quarterback situation.
People understandably questioned them when they drafted Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall less than two months after handing $180 million to Kirk Cousins. Many more wondered if it could cause an internal rift in the locker room if Penix turned heads during the offseason.
However, to this point, it’s been a non-issue. The guys in the locker room are stoked about the potential of this year’s team with Cousins under center; they also see the potential of Penix as the future. Both players seem to have accepted their roles, and perhaps more importantly, everybody else seems to be on the same page. But there was still one other scenario that needed to play out.
Taylor Heinicke took a pay cut to stay in Atlanta, but when the Falcons brought in Cousins and Penix, the writing appeared to be on the wall. Still, Heinicke stuck around the entire preseason, took the majority of the reps, and even made the final 53-man. It appeared the Falcons might have had some interest in keeping three quarterbacks on the roster, but Terry Fontenot and company played their cards right, waiting for the opportunity to get something of value in return and trading Taylor Heinicke to the Chargers for a conditional sixth round pick.
The Falcons have traded QB Taylor Heinicke to the Chargers, sources tell @JoshTheAthletic and me
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 28, 2024
This was in exchange for a conditional 6 https://t.co/8MsGjX0IAb
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 28, 2024
Sure, a conditional sixth round selection isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing, and more notably, it’s what the Falcons always should have been looking to do. This is an organization that has made a plethora of head-scratching decisions over the last half-decade. Seeing them do the right thing, even in situations that may seem inconsequential, is refreshing.
In a league like the NFL, where the difference between the best and worst teams is so minute, no details should be overlooked. This is yet another positive development in what has been one hell of an offseason for the Falcons.
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Photographer: Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire
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