FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — I have always been a firm believer in thinking it doesn't matter how good a quarterback is — if the support staff around him early in his career doesn't amount to much, then he won't either. If he doesn't have a complementary run game, trusted receivers or a defense hell-bent on creating chaos, then he will struggle.

However, in the midst of the Falcons' quarterback carousel in the wake of Matt Ryan's departure three seasons ago, my theory shifted to include not just quarterbacks but all offensive skill players.

And I have to say, every single time the Falcons took an offensive player in the first round of the last four drafts, I quietly questioned the infrastructure of the offense they entered into. I did so because of the instability at the quarterback position. It became a chicken or egg conundrum. Do you find your steady quarterback and build around him or drop him into a ready-made unit? Well, the Falcons' strategy the last four offseasons resulted in the latter approach emerging first.

We've reached the point of the process, though, where the quarterback may have emerged, too. And that means time is of the essence.

The last three games of the 2024 season showed the promise behind the Falcons' decision to draft Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick. It's a batch of games that displays a certain hope for the future — a hope the organization hasn't possessed at the position in a while.

However, the reality of the situation is that the Falcons do not have long to maximize the overlap of key players on rookie deals like Penix, Drake London, Bijan Robinson. There is also added consistency — for now — with this specific offensive line and, yes, Kyle Pitts, too, who will play on his fifth-year option in 2025.

What we saw from Atlanta's offense in the final three games of 2024 is the baseline of what it should be next year. (And yes, that's should be. Not could be.) Nearly every major piece of the unit is returning. So, there isn't much that will fundamentally change by the time the new season begins. If anything, it should be better, stronger, more confident.

But you won't have this specific group for long. You never do. So, you have to maximize the group now. Because guys like Robinson and London? With every new franchise record they set, they become more and more expensive. And with each day that passes, their second contracts creep closer.

It's unfortunate that the lack of wins have overshadowed the individual performances of some of these key players (and I would add the seasons of A.J. Terrell, Kaden Elliss and Jessie Bates III in the convo, too). This is something head coach Raheem Morris talked about at his end of season press conference.

"When you look at those guys on the offensive side of the ball, it does create a certain urgency and a certain excitement for you, personally," Morris said. "It's a disappointing day because you want those guys to be able to showcase that at a high level. And we'll get there. It's our job to get there, and we have to get there."

... because you cannot rewind the clock on these rookie deals. That's the unspoken part.

Asked about this directly, general manager Terry Fontenot said maximizing these specific talents to create a winning product is "a critical part" front-office discussions as it heads into its fifth offseason in Atlanta.

"As we go through meetings on our entire roster and all our players, a part of that is we're making decisions on players' futures. In terms of whether you're under contract, not under contract, we're making all those decisions and figuring that out," Fontenot explained. "... Not just going out and bringing players in that are going to help us win, but also getting the most out of the players here and making sure we have the right development plan for them so that everything we do this offseason is intentional, and it's helping us get closer to winning games."

And everyone knows — Morris and Fontenot as much as anyone — that the Falcons did not win enough games in 2024. They did not meet expectations, and it's left a bad taste in the mouths of fans and decision-makers alike.

The Falcons do not have long to right the ship. They have to re-load defensively this year and do what must be done offensively to give Penix the best chance to be the player they need him to be. With guys like Robinson and London on the roster, that should help.

However, the clock is ticking for the Falcons to maximize what they have attempted to build offensively over the span of four offseasons.

Can they do it?