The Falcons finished practice on Monday and will soon fly to South Beach for a couple of joint practices with the Dolphins before their first preseason game on Friday night and Michael Penix’s highly anticipated NFL debut.

Atlanta and Miami will practice Tuesday and Wednesday before the Friday exhibition contest, where all eyes will be on the Falcons rookie first-round pick. Kirk Cousins and Atlanta’s three top 10 picks at the skill positions will highlight the excitement for the 2024 season, but Penix’s outlook is what will define this regime.

Raheem Morris led the charge for the Falcons to make one of the most unprecedented moves in sports history when they gave Kirk Cousins $180 million in free agency and then turned around and drafted Penix with the 8th overall pick.

The club has hopes of returning to the postseason this year, a drought that has existed since 2018. Cousins will go a long way in helping the Falcons achieve that goal, but the future of the organization is tied to his successor.

Against the Dolphins, Penix will get his first chance to show everyone in Atlanta that he’s got what it takes to be a franchise quarterback. One thing the southpaw doesn’t lack is physical talent. The Falcons, led by Zac Robinson, will not open up the playbook, but fans should fully expect to see Penix let it loose a few times.

The Falcons play on Friday night at 7 pm. I will be eagerly awaiting Michael Penix Jr.’s debut, as I am sure all fans are too.