The Falcons’ upcoming offseason is going to be defined by what the club does at quarterback.
The roster does need some minor improvements in a few areas but is in a position to compete if the right signal caller is brought in. No, not compete for the Super Bowl but make some noise in the postseason.
Terry Fontenot has the resources to make the necessary upgrades at receiver, cornerback, and edge; however, none of that matters until the Falcons get the quarterback position figured out.
Quarterback play has severely handicapped the club in each of the past two seasons, and it’s time the organization is done with half-measures. In fact, overkilling the position should be the choice if it’s between the two.
Finding a young quarterback to invest in long-term has to be a preferred option, specifically a prospect in the 2024 draft. A quarterback on a rookie contract is easily the most valuable thing in this sport.
However, that path may not get immediate results. A rookie signal caller may be the best long-term option but might not be the best short-term one. The Falcons have a chance to satisfy both, though.
By double dipping into the quarterback market via free agency and the draft, the Falcons could compete in 2024 while also investing in a younger player for the future.
Pairing J.J. McCarthy with Kirk Cousins could accomplish that. Bleacher Report believes at least one of those acquisitions will come to fruition, predicting the Falcons to sign Cousins in free agency, who is easily the top signal caller on the market.
It’s not often that quarterback-needy teams have a chance to sign a Pro Bowler to fill that hole. That rare opportunity will present itself this spring with Kirk Cousins set to enter free agency following a six-year run with the Minnesota Vikings.
While Cousins is coming off a season-ending Achilles tear and will turn 36 years old before the 2024 season kicks off, he’s played some of his best football in recent seasons and should be able to help whichever team lands him win games for several more.
Cousins, the No. 2 overall player on Pro Football Focus’ free-agency big board, is only a year removed from the latest of his four Pro Bowl campaigns. He seemed well on his way to earning another nod, having racked up 2,331 yards and 18 touchdowns against five interceptions over the first eight games of 2023.
That type of sustained high-level play should make him an intriguing target for the Atlanta Falcons, a team that has all the offensive pieces in place to succeed but lacks a quarterback to unlock its potential.
Atlanta boasts a litany of talented skill-position players, including early first-round picks in tight end Kyle Pitts, wideout Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson. The team failed to find success with either Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke under center this past season, however, and needs to make a run at Cousins to start new head coach Raheem Morris’ tenure on a high note.
With $29 million in cap space available and the ability to clear plenty more, the Falcons will be able to find a way to squeeze in a market-value deal—pegged by Spotrac to be a shade under $40 million annually—for Cousins while retaining their core players.
This single move will significantly raise the ceiling on Atlanta’s offense and make the Falcons a favorite in the wide-open NFC South race next season.
Every quarterback-needy team that wants to compete in 2024 will be interested in Kirk Cousins, including his current team in the Vikings. There will be no shortage of suitors for the Falcons to compete with, but there are a few reasons to believe Atlanta is the most likely free agent destination.
Firstly, players all over the league have voiced their love of playing for Raheem Morris. Cousins and Morris spent time in Washington from 2012 to 2014, and though the new Falcons head coach was the defensive backs coach during that period, there’s still familiarity.
Secondly, the Falcons offense is ripe for a quarterback to step in. The offensive line is solid; the skill group is primed to reach its full potential, and Zac Robinson is heralded as one of the brightest young minds in the game. Cousins’ skill set fits the mold of what Robinson’s scheme demands out of the position too.
Thirdly, the NFC South is wide open, unlike the NFC North. The Vikings are squarely behind the Packers and Lions, but the Falcons could easily be the favorites to take the division with Cousins.
Lastly, the Falcons may have a leg up over other teams because Cousins has family ties to Atlanta.
It’s not a bad prediction from Bleacher Report.
—
You must log in to post a comment.