Many describe the Falcons as a roster that is talented, but one that underachieved in 2023.
It’s a fair characterization. Atlanta featured elite and well above average talent on both sides of the ball — Chris Lindstrom, Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Grady Jarrett, David Onyemata, Kaden Elliss, Jessie Bates III, A.J. Terrell, and more.
However, Arthur Smith was ultimately fired because of his blind faith in Desmond Ridder. He put his eggs in a third-round pick’s basket, and it cost him his job.
There’s no question that facet of the team has to improve. Arthur Blank acknowledged as much in his first media appearance since the Raheem Morris hire, telling Atlanta reporters that every candidate he spoke to during the process defined the quarterback situation as “something that needs work.”
“It’s very clear to everybody — all of our fans, all of you, anybody throughout the NFL — is that this is a position that we need to figure out how we’re going to get better in 2024 and beyond that as well, whether that be trades, free agency, the draft, whatever it may be,” Blank said.
Everyone knows the Falcons will be in the market for a quarterback, including Vegas. The 2025 Super Bowl odds will shock fans in Atlanta if you haven’t seen them already. The Falcons currently sits at 33-1 odds, which is the same odds as the Browns, Rams, and Jaguars, according to BetOnline.
The Falcons, without a quarterback, have the same odds as Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams, Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars, as well as the loaded Cleveland Browns with Deshaun Watson. That doesn’t even feel real.
It’s clear the oddsmakers believe the franchise is going to be aggressive in improving the quarterback situation.
The Athletic recently did a piece on the biggest changes in odds from last year’s preseason numbers to the post-Super Bowl odds, and Atlanta came in right outside the top five.
Texans (odds): Preseason 2023 (+20000) Post SB (+2500) Change (+17500)
Cardinals: Preseason (+20000) Post SB (+8000) Change (+12000)
Colts: Preseason (+12500) Post SB (+5000) Change (+7500)
Rams: Preseason (+7000) Post SB (+3000) Change (+3000)
Packers: Preseason (+5000) Post SB (+2500) Change (+2500)
Falcons: Preseason (+7000) Post SB (+5000) Change (+2000)
The Falcons are the proverbial quarterback away from competing in the postseason. What the new regime with Raheem Morris and Terry Fontenot plans to do to attack the position is the single greatest factor in success or failure for Atlanta in 2024.
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Photographer: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire
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