The feeling around the NFL is for the Falcons to come away with one of Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, or Justin Fields, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options.
Obviously, Atlanta would love to find the long-term answer in the draft, but the opportunity may not arise. Moreover, if Cousins and Mayfield re-sign with their respective teams, the Falcons could be forced to pivot.
That direction could be Fields or potentially a veteran free agent in Russell Wilson, who was just released by the Broncos. Atlanta was named one of the best fits for him by ESPN.
An established veteran is attractive to Atlanta, but the sense is that the Falcons will target other quarterbacks. Execs I’ve spoken to largely expect Atlanta to walk away with one of these three quarterbacks: Kirk Cousins, Justin Fields or Baker Mayfield. This is a ready-made team that’s a quarterback away. Wilson would fit the profile, but other quarterbacks will likely get a crack at this one.
Wilson is coming off a season where he started 15 games, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns to eight interceptions. In terms of numbers, that’s better than Justin Fields.
However, the most attractive part of Wilson’s free agency is the price. The Broncos are the on hook for nearly $40 million, regardless of whether Wilson plays a snap in the NFL or not. In theory, the Falcons could sign him for the veteran minimum, which would be more than a bargain.
The Falcons would be able to spend cap dollars elsewhere on the roster, while Russell Wilson takes a cheap one-year deal to prove he’s still got some left in the tank while also sticking it to his former team.
It would enable the Falcons to remain flexible at the quarterback position too. It wouldn’t eliminate the club from drafting a long-term solution in 2024. It could also set them up for a big move in 2025.
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Photographer: Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire
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