re: Atlanta falcons fans. How are you feeling today?

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You need a top 15-20 QB to make a run

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It depends on what they're getting paid. Have you ever looked at the list of Super Bowl winning QBs since the rookie wage scale was implemented? If not, here you go.

2012: Flacco - Last year of his rookie deal (signed pre-rookie wage scale so wasn't super cheap, but was not near the top end of QB salaries that season)
2013: Wilson - Rookie deal
2014: Brady - ALWAYS signed contracts well below market value to allow the team to put a better roster around him, which was the single most underrated part of New England's dynasty
2015: P. Manning - That Broncos defense was next level elite
2016: Brady
2017: Wentz/Foles - Wentz was on a rookie deal, Foles was on a backup salary
2018: Brady
2019: Mahomes - Rookie deal
2020: Brady
2021: Stafford - His base salary that season was $1M. The Rams structured that contract to give themselves a one year window to really go for it and they got it.
2022: Mahomes - The only QB to win AFTER getting paid top tier QB money
2023: Mahomes

To win a Super Bowl in this era, you have to have a GOAT tier QB (Mahomes, Brady, Manning) who leaves a little bit of money on the table or a good QB on a cheap contract.

The Falcons are willingly giving away at least 2 years of Penix's rookie contract and will have some Cousins dead money on the books in year 3 of his rookie deal. They will get to see him play for exactly one season before having to decide whether or not to pick up his 5th year option. They basically will have a one year window (2027) to win a Super Bowl with Penix before he gets expensive unless he turns out to be a GOAT tier QB, and I feel reasonably confident that Penix will never come close to being on the Mahomes/Brady tier.

The NFL builds in advantages for teams with good QBs on rookie contracts, and the Falcons are completely ignoring this like it's still 2001.