The Falcons are expected to be aggressive in targeting a quarterback this offseason, specifically moving up the draft board, but there’s a distinct possibility that Atlanta swings and misses.
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels are expected to be the first three selections in April’s draft in some order. The Bears, Commanders, and Patriots have needs at the position, so unless the Falcons believe J.J. McCarthy is worth the 8th overall pick and a potential franchise quarterback, it’s plausible the club rolls with a veteran to bridge the team from 2024 to 2025 when they could dive back into the quarterback market.
So, what are those veteran options? Well, Kirk Cousins probably doesn’t fit the billing because he’ll garner a two or three-year deal, and Baker Mayfield will likely garner a three or four-year deal.
Russell Wilson may not even want to take a one-year contract wherever he ends up signing if the Broncos part ways with the veteran. The options aren’t quite as plentiful as some Falcons fans might believe.
Unfortunately, someone like Ryan Tannehill, Gardner Minshew or Jacoby Brissett could potentially be the one-year, bridge options. Or maybe even Jimmy Garoppolo, who was named a fit with the Falcons by The Athletic
The Falcons have some interesting offensive weapons and just need a competent quarterback. Given that they have more talent on both sides of the ball than most rebuilding teams, they seem like a good candidate to trade up into the top three if not draft J.J. McCarthy at No. 8. Garoppolo might be a better and more reliable backup than another former Raider, Marcus Mariota, was.
The 32-year-old will be released by the Raiders sooner or later and is also facing a two-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, so there are certainly obstacles to a future free agent deal.
Depending on the price, the Falcons would be better off just rolling with in-house candidate Taylor Heinicke probably. These are all lackluster options, and if you’re a fan still begrudgingly reading this, that’s the point.
If the Falcons aren’t interested in Justin Fields, as Steve Wyche believes, then they don’t find their guy in the draft, and the top free agents — Cousins, Mayfield — sign extensions, what options do they have? They might have to just kick the can down the road to 2025, which isn’t going to land well on the fan base.
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