This slot could just as easily be filled by Michael Penix Jr., whose football journey has been waylaid by another ACL tear, but it just feels like Tagovailoa will get the first — and possibly best — chance to turn his career back in the right direction. Like Kyler Murray, Tua signed a one-year deal for the league minimum, with the Falcons taking advantage of the offset language in his Dolphins deal.
At 28, Tagovailoa still is relatively young, but he’s had a long, troublesome injury history that includes a fractured hip and several concussions. He also has no experience with new head coach Kevin Stefanski and must beat out the incumbent Penix in this fascinating, all-lefty battle. Again, though, Penix is currently working his way back to full health after undergoing major knee surgery in November.
In a perfect world for Tua, he’s a strong fit as a rhythm-and-timing quarterback in Stefanski’s wide-zone, play-action-heavy system. Atlanta has a potent run game, a true WR1 in Drake London, an excellent middle-field option in Kyle Pitts and the makings of a solid offensive line.
There’s no doubt Tagovailoa is at a career crossroads, and his history could work against him, but worse quarterbacks have overcome more to find second lives in the NFL. He still has a great shot to cash in with a strong 2026 campaign.