The Atlanta Falcons have recently appointed Raheem Morris as their new head coach, but according to reports, Morris’ appointment won’t be the only significant change in Atlanta this offseason.
Terry Fontenot, the Falcons general manager, confirmed those reports and said a quarterback upgrade will be “a top priority” for the team during the summer, adding he was quite excited to start the search for a player that could take Atlanta to the next level.
Trades, Free Agency and the Draft are All Options
Fontenot said they had smart people in and out of the building and outlined the team’s quarterback scouting and recruitment plans for the offseason, saying they may include “trades, free agency,” and “the draft.” The Falcons general manager said they wanted to “keep an open mind” when it came to finding their quarterback upgrade to make sure they “get it right.”
The Atlanta Falcons going for a new quarterback in the offseason won’t surprise anyone. Despite building a talented team last year, the Falcons failed to turn that talent into results and many feel the team’s shortcomings at quarterback were to blame.
Atlanta changed quarterbacks midseason, with Taylor Heinicke taking over from Desmond Ridder. However, an injury Heinicke suffered in late November forced the Falcons to start with Ridder once again. Even though the 24-year-old showed signs of improvement, he was dropped following his poor performance against the Carolina Panthers.
When Heinicke was reinstated, the Falcons still had a chance to win the division title. Unfortunately, an injury to Heinicke’s left foot meant the veteran’s season was ended early and the Falcons finished out of the playoff spots following a dismal run of only one win in the last five games of the season.
Bears’ Justin Fields is One of the Options
Missing out on the playoffs with a 7-10 record meant Arthur Smith’s days as Falcons’ head coach were numbered and he was soon replaced by Raheem Morris. However, despite the change at the helm, the problems at quarterback were still there. So, that was the next thing on Fontenot’s agenda.
Heinicke and Ridder are still on the Falcons’ payroll, but Atlanta probably feels that free agents such as Kirk Cousins and prospects like the unsettled Justin Fields are options that are simply too good to pass up.
Fontenot decided not to speak about the Falcons’ interest in Fields, as he might be accused of tampering, but he knows the player well, as he was considering drafting him for the Falcons when he first became the team’s general manager but went with Kyle Pitts in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Falcons may also opt to use their No. 8 overall draft pick to select a talented quarterback or trade up so they get an even better shot of picking from the country’s best young quarterbacks. However, Fontenot said they would first evaluate all potential 2024 rookies before deciding on what he described as “a very strong draft.”
