The Atlanta Falcons are counting down the days until the 2026 NFL Draft, but due to the team's lack of draft capital, there's only so much first-year general manager Ian Cunningham can do. The Falcons' first selection won't come until Day 2 (pick No. 48 overall), and they have just five total picks.
The quarterback position is one that fans will be watching closely in 2026. The team signed veterans Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Siemian in free agency to add competition and depth to the QB room, which includes former top-10 pick Michael Penix Jr.
Since the 2026 NFL Draft is just a few days away, we're breaking down each position group on the roster. Today, we're looking at quarterbacks, including potential draft targets and free-agent options.
Penix and Tagovailoa are supposed to have an open competition for Atlanta's starting quarterback job. Since Penix is recovering from ACL surgery, Tagovailoa may have the early advantage. The former top-five pick was released by the Miami Dolphins and is looking for a fresh start.
However, Penix believes he will be good to go by the time training camp rolls around. The Falcons are only paying Tagovailoa $1.3 million, so they can truly afford to go with the QB that performs best in camp. Siemian is not a lock to make the roster, though, so the team could add another QB in the draft.
The Falcons met with both King and Strand on pre-draft visits. Both players are late-round prospects and could be options for Atlanta on Day 3 or as undrafted free agents. Kansas Jayhawks QB Jalon Daniels is another potential late-round QB prospects for Atlanta. Other notable options include former Georgia Bulldogs QB Carson Beck and Clemson's Cade Klubnik.
The Falcons are unlikely to sign another quarterback in free agency, but for the sake of this article, we examined the remaining options. Wilson and Taylor are both experienced veterans who would likely prefer to go somewhere with less competition.
One potential option could be Easton Stick, who played well for the Falcons in the preseason last year. Veteran Aaron Rodgers is among the other notable free-agent quarterbacks, although he will likely sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers if he plays this season.
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Atlanta Falcons pre-draft quarterback breakdown