How high will Michael Penix Jr. climb on the depth chart in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, training camp began with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and quarterback Taylor Heinicke. divide the representatives of the second teamAs of Tuesday, when the Falcons return to work, that could change.

Heinicke knows it’s going to happen; he said Saturday night that he could “see the writing on the wall.” While some have interpreted that to mean he expects to no longer be a Falcon, the more immediate reality is that he likely expects not to get many second-team reps for a very long time.

The real question is, will Penix’s impending promotion be the end or the beginning? The question is finding a balance between winning now and winning later. The sooner Penix plays, the better the Falcons will be able to win later, as he gets valuable reps and the game slows down (in theory) and he gets closer to his ceiling, whatever that may be.

Yes, they gave Kirk Cousins ​​$90 million guaranteed over the next two years. But they can cap the total outlay at $62.5 million if he is traded after the current season. If the Falcons pivot to Penix before 2025, that’s the likely outcome. (Yes, Cousins ​​has a no-trade clause. His choices could be to waive it and play or relax it and stay on the bench.)

Owner Arthur Blank is one to watch. If he wants Penix’s path to the starting job to be accelerated, those working for Blank will have to decide whether to resist or give in.

Cousins ​​has the green light to practice, but (our understanding) he’s still not 100 percent after tearing his Achilles tendon last season. If Penix gets more reps in practice — and if he plays extensively in the preseason and plays well — the Falcons could decide to throw him into the scrimmage. The players could make it impossible to keep Penix under control, depending on how he performs.

Ultimately, the coaching staff and offense may want to play Cousins ​​and wait for Penix. Then again, ownership may have a say in what ultimately happens.

Because owners usually have a say in these kinds of decisions, far more often than they would like to admit.

Back to Heinicke. Why trade him? After last year, it’s clear there’s value in having three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. The Falcons might need him at some point. Alternatively, the Falcons might be able to trade him to someone who develops a dire need for a capable player at the most important position on the field.