Analyst thinks Falcons' QB battle will have clear winner with big "if"

The Atlanta Falcons are one of a host of teams that are having a legitimate quarterback battle as OTAs begin this offseason.

Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa are the quarterbacks Kevin Stefanski will be watching over the next couple of months to decide who his starter will be.

Penix Jr. has shown flashes, but is coming off an ACL injury, while Tua was horrific for Miami last season, and was benched towards the end of the year. 

So, who will win this battle for Stefanski?

Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport is giving his vote to Tua.

"Penix was better in 2025 than in his rookie season, but his injury isn't the only thing leaving him facing an uphill battle," Davenport wrote. "As recently as two years ago, Tagovailoa led the league in completion percentage. The year before that, he paced the NFL with 4,624 passing yards.

"If Tagovailoa can approach that level of performance in 2026, then he's simply a better quarterback than Penix."

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Is Tua the best option?

For winning right now, you have to say yes.

Who can get more out of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts? Tua or Penix Jr.? For me, it's clearly Tua.

But the thing is, he wasn't good last season in Miami, so what we can expect from him under Stefanski is a big unknown. The thing in Tua's favor is that he has skins on the wall in the league and has shown he can be a top quarterback, however briefly.

And it will be Tagovailoa's experience that will likely see him named as the starter for Week 1.

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