Pro Football Focus gives Falcons one reason for optimism in 2025
The Atlanta Falcons are kicking off their second day of mandatory minicamp and there's a genuine feeling of optimism surrounding the team. The offense is ready to take off with Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback, while the defense added two first-round edge rushers and some new faces in the secondary.
At the end of the day, though, the Falcons will be judged by their record and whether or not they make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Last season, the team started 6-3 but collapsed over the second half. Will 2025 finally be the year Atlanta gets over the hump?
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Pro Football Focus gave every team one reason for optimism ahead of the 2025 season. For the Falcons, PFF highlighted a full year of Penix as something to look forward to.
Penix made just three starts during his rookie campaign but showed plenty of promise in the process. Over the final three weeks of the regular season, he recorded an 84.0 PFF passing grade while producing nine big-time throws, the second most in the NFL. He was more than willing to attack defenses with vertical passes and quickly developed a nice rapport with top receiver Drake London. Penix should give Falcons fans plenty of hope based on what we saw last year. -- Dalton Wasserman, PFF
Atlanta waited a little bit too long to put Penix in last season, but Morris won't make the same mistake this time around. Even with Kirk Cousins still on the roster, Penix is the undisputed starter at quarterback.
The former No. 8 overall selection has all the tools to put up elite numbers in Atlanta's offense. When he took over in Week 16, there was a noticeable uptick in big plays as Penix's big arm opened up the entire field for the team's many weapons.
The numbers weren't overly impressive on paper -- 775 passing yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions -- but the former Washington star showed a unique mix for poise and fearlessness that only the great quarterbacks in this league seem to have.
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With Penix leading the way, the 2025 season should be a fun one for Atlanta.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons News: Michael Penix gives Atlanta reason for optimism
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