I know it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but when you’re 3-7 with five straight losses and both Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London both out for significant periods of time, it’s hard not to drift toward draft season. Call it a coping mechanism if you want. It sure beats reliving a brutal loss to the Panthers.
But here’s the twist: the Falcons don’t even own their 2026 first-round pick. That belongs to the Rams after the move up for James Pearce Jr.
And while Pearce has shown real flashes, that deal now looms large with Atlanta staring down the possibility of handing Los Angeles a top-five selection (right now, the pick sits at 8 but it could easily climb higher) with Kirk Cousins the new starter.