The Falcons have another monumental offseason ahead of them, and it’s going to be defined by what Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris do at the quarterback position.
There’s a difficult conversation going on inside Flowery Branch. The Falcons brass is discussing what’s best for the team right now and also in the future. The pickings are slim for options that satisfy both requirements of trying to compete in 2024 while also investing in the long-term viability of the quarterback position.
The draft is obviously the best place to do that, but every prospect outside of Caleb Williams and Drake Maye needs time to develop. C.J. Stroud is the perfect example of a rookie hitting the ground running, and I don’t see that happening with anyone other than Williams or Maye, not even Jayden Daniels.
Moreover, the possibility that any of those three are available is unlikely. That leaves guys like J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, and Michael Penix; none of whom can step in and help the Falcons compete right away as a rookie.
Justin Fields is probably the best option to help the Falcons be as competitive as possible in 2024 while still potentially giving them a shot at a long-term franchise quarterback.
In my opinion, double dipping in the quarterback market can easily fill both needs, long and short-term. Drafting a guy like J.J. McCarthy and signing a free agent like Kirk Cousins, if landing one of the top three quarterback prospects isn’t possible, would be my preference.
And Dan Graziano of ESPN reported recently that the Falcons are one of several teams who are “keeping a close eye on this situation” in reference to Cousins’ impending free agency.
The Vikings are obviously a suitor for Cousins. He’s spent a lot of time in Minnesota, but every quarterback-needy team that wants to compete in 2024 will be interested in Kirk Cousins.
Atlanta is an attractive landing spot as well. The Falcons have a solid offensive line, a great skill group, an exciting offensive coordinator, and maybe most of all, a wide-open division. Moreover, Kirk Cousins has family ties to the city.
If Cousins does hit free agency, the Falcons have to be seen as a likely landing spot.
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Photographer: Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire
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