The Falcons are expected to be aggressive in their attempt to trade up the draft board to find their franchise quarterback, but it’s entirely possible the opportunity doesn’t even arise.
In fact, I’d consider it unlikely that one of the Bears, Commanders, or Patriots comes off their selection, which would force the Falcons to pivot towards Plan B, C, or even D.
Now, what could those backup plans be?
Well, it seems Kirk Cousins is one of them, and signing the veteran in free agency seems to be a more desirable outcome for Atlanta than trading for Justin Fields.
According to Paul Allen, who has been the play-by-play announcer for the Vikings for two decades, Atlanta prefers Kirk Cousins over Justin Fields, and “it’s not close.”
It makes sense for a few reasons, but the most damning thing that is working against a Justin Fields trade is the schematic fit. If the Falcons acquired the Georgia native, Zac Robinson would have to be expected to adjust his offense to fit Fields’ skill set, not inserting him into a Sean McVay-esque offense.
Now, that’s certainly a possibility. Kyle Shanahan adjusted his offense in Washington to fit Robert Griffin III’s skill set, then back to what it is today when Kirk Cousins stepped into a starting role.
For the Falcons, a similar schematic adjustment would be necessary if Atlanta acquired Fields. If they didn’t, it would be like fitting a square peg into a round hole.
That’s why it feels more likely the Falcons prefer Kirk Cousins over Justin Fields, which makes even more sense with Adam Schefter reporting that Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson want to run an offense similar to what the Rams ran last year under Sean McVay.
“The two teams being connected to Kirk Cousins are the Vikings and the Atlanta Falcons.” per @AdamSchefter on Sports Center.
Schefter says HC Raheem Morris & OC Zac Robinson want to run an offense similar to what the Rams ran last year. Adds that Kirk Cousins is the “type of…
— Bryce Lewis (@Bryce_Lewis86) March 1, 2024
Kirk Cousins is obviously a better fit for that system than Justin Fields, which is why the Falcons have and will continue to be connected to him as free agency approaches.
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Photographer: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
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