​The most accomplished athletes often carry a noticeable chip on their shoulder. Tom Brady entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick, and almost no one predicted he would become a standout pro. If he couldn’t find real slights, Michael Jordan would even manufacture grievances in his mind to fuel his motivation. The Atlanta Falcons, however, don’t have to manufacture any grudges—this season has already handed them more than enough criticism from national outlets. They’re currently ranked 27th in the league despite possessing a talented group of skill players, and that kind of external pressure can be a powerful motivator.
With that backdrop, here are five Falcons players who have the most to prove this coming season.
QB Michael Penix Jr. has not yet received a truly fair shake at the NFL level. He shouldn’t have had to compete with Kirk Cousins as a rookie, and another knee injury has further set back his development. Through 12 starts for Atlanta, Penix has posted a passer rating of 100 or better in only three games. He needs to break through this year, or he risks fading into the background and never sticking with the team that drafted him No. 8 overall.
QB Tua Tagovailoa is the other potential Falcons starter who must rise to the occasion. Tagovailoa is coming off a stretch of seasons that led the Miami Dolphins to absorb a $99 million dead-money hit to part ways with him. He must demonstrate that he can still flourish at this level, or his NFL future could look uncertain sooner rather than later.
WR Jahan Dotson entered the league as a first-round pick with promise, and his rookie year suggested there was substantial potential. However, his production since then has been underwhelming, and he’s managed just one touchdown across his last 34 games. Dotson has an opportunity to win Atlanta’s WR2 role behind Drake London, but that will require recapturing the form he showed in 2022 and proving he can sustain it.
OLB Jalon Walker had to watch a sensational rookie season from a young Falcons edge rusher who turned out to be James Pearce Jr., selected 11 spots after Walker in last year’s draft. Pearce’s numbers were roughly double what Walker managed, and Pearce could face a lengthy league suspension this season. With Pearce sidelined, Walker must step up and prove that he was worth a first-round pick.
CB Avieon Terrell became Atlanta’s top pick after the team traded up to acquire Pearce, avoiding a first-round selection entirely this year. As a rookie, Terrell will contend with veteran Mike Hughes for the job opposite his older brother A.J. Terrell on the right boundary. His biggest test will be proving that his smaller frame won’t hinder him on the outside and that he won’t be forced to play nickel to survive at this level.
This material originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Falcons players with something to prove in the 2026 NFL season.