Penix may be “all systems go” in 2025…and we do have Terry Fontenot to thank for that.
To get revved up for another NFL off-season, PFF’s Bradley Locker recognized one early 2025 breakout candidate for all 32 teams in the NFL. Locker didn’t have far to look to decide on his name for the Atlanta Falcons, as he chose probably the biggest name on the roster right now: soon-to-be second-year quarterback Michael Penix, Jr.
It’s tough not to be encouraged by what Penix showed during his limited starting stint in 2024. Over the last three weeks of the season, Penix’s 84.0 PFF passing grade ranked eighth among qualifiers and his 8.5% big-time throw rate placed third. Beyond that, Penix was responsible for only two turnover-worthy plays on 108 dropbacks. With the Falcons retaining a stellar offensive nucleus and a strong offensive line, all the pieces are in place for the Washington product to take off next year.
The Falcons have one of the better offensive lines in the NFL, coupled with a slew of dynamic weapons, including Drake London, who finished fourth in the league in receiving yards (1,271). Not to mention a tandem of backs in Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who gave Atlanta the number-one rushing attack from down-to-down in terms of success rate and the seventh-best in terms of EPA/rush.
When Terry Fontenot got the General Manager job in 2021, the hope was that he would create an environment conducive to growth for the eventual answer at the quarterback position. Despite Kyle Pitts, the inaugural addition to the mission, not living up to the billing, it seems that Fontenot has done just that. He has had his shortcomings on the other side of the football and should continue to answer for his inability to field talent on both sides, of course.
However, we can give him his credit for putting Penix in a position to thrive when his number is called.