Falcons told Marcus Mariota he has “a chance to start” before signing

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The Falcons will begin the season with Marcus Mariota as the team’s signal caller, as they close the book on the Matt Ryan era in Atlanta. My initial reaction to the Mariota signing was indifference because he can be a decent quarterback in this league. Obviously, there’s a chance the Falcons take a quarterback in April’s draft, but I never expected that rookie to start the season under center. I figured Mariota was the apparent starter, but maybe not…

I don’t buy Mariota not starting for the Falcons in 2022, but from the team’s perspective, I understand why they told Marcus he’d have a chance to start; you never want your players to get complacent or lose their competitive edge. However, I still think Mariota is the favorite; he’s a competent quarterback, and has experience with Arthur Smith’s offense. Working with Smith in Tennessee, Mariota was eventually replaced by Ryan Tannehill during his last season with the Titans.

His most recent start came in 2020, where he completed 17 of 28 passes (60.7% completion) for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Mariota can still function as a starter in this league, and I think he’ll get his chance in Atlanta.

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