Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. will combine to create a franchise-caliber quarterback. At least, that is what the Atlanta Falcons hope will be the case, with Kevin Stefanski serving as the filter to find the best choice of the two. Of course, while Stefanski considers his options, other teams will be practicing with the quarterback they know will start in Week 1.
Despite the expected slow start in the race to get ready for the season, former Patriots star Asante Samuel chose Atlanta to win the NFC South.
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“Tua Tagovailoa to the Falcons is a good fit,” he posted. “The Atlanta Falcons are a team to look out for this season. Don’t be surprised if the Falcons win the NFC South.”
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Fans strongly disagreed with Samuel’s pick. Many expected the team to struggle and were not shy about the prediction.
“Tua sucks, and Penix is made of glass. That big uncertainty at the QB position will be the Falcons undoing,” one posted.
“Lmao win the wat??? Child please 😂,” another laughed.
“Here we go with the offseason falcons hype,” one sighed.
More fans reacted negatively, calling out the quarterbacks and the team.
“They will have the worst record in the division. The most overhyped team in the NFC South,” one posted.
“Yea two below average QBs who can’t stay healthy,” another added.
“If they win the South it will be in spite of Tua,” one predicted.
The Falcons have not won the NFC South since 2016. The franchise has failed to finish with double-digit wins since the 2017 season and has not had a winning season in eight seasons. Still, there’s a reason to believe in every team this season, with every franchise still at 0-0.
Each NFC South team’s argument to win the division, including Tua Tagovailoa’s Falcons
Of course, while national expectations for the Atlanta Falcons are low, fans have reason to believe in the team. Kevin Stefanski has led teams to the playoffs before, and Bijan Robinson alone is talented enough to hand over some free wins. At 8-9 in each of the last two years, Tua Tagovailoa’s team was already on the edge of a breakout.
The Carolina Panthers made the playoffs with a negative record at 8-9. Any kind of improvement puts the team in line with the rest of the division. Bryce Young appeared to take a step forward in his second year under Dave Canales and should be even better with another year of practice under his belt.
Baker Mayfield wasn’t quite himself in 2025, but the quarterback managed to win the division in two of his last three seasons. As such, the odds remain on his side. In a contract season, the quarterback will have every reason to elevate his game to the next level.
The New Orleans Saints might suddenly have the best quarterback in the NFC South. Tyler Shough was impressive in the second half of the 2025 season, and with Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson around as newcomers in 2026, the offense could find a higher gear.
Edited by Ian Van Roy