NFL insider’s favorite move of the Falcons offseason

The Falcons have made a thing of attacking their roster’s weaknesses in a fanatic fashion.

A year ago, Terry Fontenot went out and signed the best free agent quarterback on the market, inking Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal that some believed was an overpay. It didn’t matter to the Falcons.

The move emphatically filled the longest-standing and biggest need of the team. It brought hope to Atlanta, and then Terry Fontenot threw one of the wildest curveballs this league has ever seen, selecting Michael Penix Jr. 8th overall about a month after the Cousins signing.

It was scrutinized by most Falcons fans and everyone else in the league. A year later, it worked out because Cousins’ injury cost Atlanta a playoff spot, and nobody is sure what kind of tread he’s got left. Thankfully, the future is already here in Penix.

This offseason, Fontenot didn’t quite raise the bar, but he certainly gave it a shot. On the first night of the NFL Draft, everything fell into place for the Falcons. Hometown hero, Jalon Walker, who was a consensus top 10 talent in this class, fell all the way to Atlanta’s 15th pick.

It was a dream come true, and Terry Fontenot did the sensible thing: he drafted the Georgia Bulldogs star. Everyone in Atlanta thought the Falcons’ night was done… but the GM had different plans, making the move of the entire weekend, trading back into the first round and landing James Pearce Jr.

In back-to-back offseasons, Fontenot has not only filled the roster’s biggest hole, but he’s doubled down to do so, which was Mike Sando of the The Athletic’s favorite move of the Falcons offseason.

“The Falcons’ double-barreled approach to addressing their pass-rush issues cost them a 2026 first-round pick, which seemed desperate. But unlike last offseason, when the Falcons committed $90 million guaranteed to Kirk Cousins before using a first-round pick for another QB, Michael Penix Jr., the move to draft pass rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. was not an either-or proposition. Both first-round picks can play at the same time. Getting a third-round pick back from the Rams in the trade-up for Pearce also enabled the selection of safety Xavier Watts, a likely starter.”