Disclaimer: The statements and opinions regarding players and/or potential future players in the article below are those of the AtlantaFalcons.com editorial staff and are not of the Atlanta Falcons' football personnel unless noted in a direct quote.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It's been a relatively quiet week on the 'ole NFL front hasn't it? Outside of The Beast dropping Wednesday, I can't say there has been too much that has gotten my blood pumping in the newsfeed this week.
This tends to happen as the draft draws near. There's either no smoke or a lot of it. And right now? There doesn't feel like there's much in the air. However, that doesn't mean you don't have questions that need answering.
To the contrary...
Brandon B. from Rome, Georgia
Any updates on Demarcco Hellams? I know we signed Jordan Fuller in free agency, but Hellams pops people and is a solid tackler.
Hellams is trending back to health. Raheem Morris was asked about him at the Annual League Meetings in Palm Beach a couple weeks ago. He was one of the handful of young players Morris called out as being excited to get back on the field and at full health in 2025 after a year on the sidelines with an ankle injury for all of last season.
Morris said Hellams is expected to be full-go for the team's voluntary OTA period beginning in April. I would imagine that if Hellams picks up where he left off in the preseason last year that he will be fighting for a starting spot, even with Fuller on the roster... any maybe a draft pick? That is, if the Falcons go that direction in the early rounds.
I know a lot of people are talking about the defensive linemen who are expected to be healthy and take a big step (players like Ruke Orhorhoro, Bralen Trice and Brandon Dorlus), but don't forget Hellams.
Joel F. from Columbus, Georgia
Hi Tori! I'm a big fan of yours! If the Falcons work out some deal in exchange for Kirk Cousins; who would we realistically be able to obtain as a backup to Michael Penix Jr. that would have the experience and/or talent?
I will be honest that I don't have any specific names for you at the moment. I'm truly just trying to see what's going to happen with Cousins to begin with, and then let the backup dominos fall where they may. But just off the top of my head, I would imagine the Falcons would want to go after someone who has a history working with either Morris, Zac Robinson or T.J. Yates, or a coach with similar scheme philosophies to them — so think the Sean McVay (Rams), Kirk O'Connel (Vikings), Zac Taylor (Bengals) systems.
In terms of how the Falcons could acquire said unnamed quarterback entity; I do not think it will be a difficult endeavor. You could sign an undrafted free agent, or a QB off another team's practice squad. Then, there's also the trade option. Heck, someone like Taylor Heinicke was shipped off to the Chargers for a conditional sixth-round pick last year. Not a bad deal if the Falcons feel they need a proven vet. They're out there and what they'd have to give away probably wouldn't be too significant, using this trade as a case study.
I am going to put a pin in your question because I do think we will know more as the dust of the draft settles and we see where quarterbacks stand across the league. (And yes, that includes Cousins).
David H. from Marshalltown, Iowa
What is your take on Matt Ryan being asked to mentor/teach/coach Penix, instead of another well-seasoned QB that is already on payroll who knows the offense? Is there more here than meets the eye? Has the team already 'cut ties' with Cousins?
I don't think Morris' comments at owners meetings about this are a knock on Cousins nor is this something that I think is absolutely happening in the first place. Personally, I think a lot of people took Morris' quote a few weeks ago as being a for-sure thing, when I actually think he meant it more as a generalization.
"You talk about, 'What is your offseason plan?' and 'How do you go about that process?'" Morris said of Penix's offseason development as QB1. "Try to hook him up with people to talk to about what they've done in their past, whether that be Matt Ryan, whether that be his coaches, whatever the case may be before he left."
Ryan lives in Atlanta. He's still connected with the organization, as well as with Morris, too. It's not at all surprising that Morris would name drop Ryan as someone who could be a mentor to Penix. But what does that actually look like? Have the two spoken? Was it a phone call or two? Or have they been out on the grass together? I think these are the questions we don't have answers to. All we have is a single comment from Morris about trying to connect Penix with Ryan. That's it.
Now, who's to say Penix doesn't report to voluntary OTAs and say in an availability at mandatory minicamp that he and Ryan have dinner together every Tuesday? Sure, that could happen. But to the point of us truly knowing how much Ryan is mentoring/teaching/coaching Penix (to use your words), no one knows if any of that is actually happening.
Then, there's the second part of your question regarding Cousins and the team "cutting ties." Look, I think we all can see the writing on the wall. I wrote about said writing at the Annual League Meetings last week after talking to Morris and owner Arthur Blank about Cousins. Both said Cousins' intentions are clear: He wants to be a starting quarterback in this league. As long as Penix is healthy and playing clean ball, that won't be in Atlanta. He's open to a trade. The Falcons are, too, with Morris saying the organization wouldn't stand in the way of something if a viable option presented itself. And then, there's Morris saying he doesn't believe Cousins will report for voluntary OTAs at the end of April. So, I think regardless of what Penix may or may not be doing with Ryan, that really has no bearing on what happens with Cousins. That ship — at least to me — has sailed. It's just a matter of finding a destination to sail to.
