The Falcons could look much different in 2024.
Though Arthur Smith’s job is in question, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke’s are not. Neither will be the starting quarterback in Atlanta next season.
Ridder was benched for the second time this season, and Heinicke has provided a spark for the offense for the second time this season. It’s clear that Ridder isn’t a starting-caliber signal caller in this league, but it is also overwhelmingly apparent that Heinicke isn’t the answer either.
Despite the offense putting up a season-high 29 points on Sunday behind Heinicke, the veteran still put the ball in harm’s way as much, if not more often than Ridder. Just because the results were better doesn’t mean the process was.
Regardless of what happens over the Falcons final two games, the club will be in the market for a quarterback this offseason.
The free agent market isn’t as robust as it has been in recent cycles, but Kirk Cousins is a potential target that would net immediate results and stabilize the position for the next few seasons. However, his Achilles injury certainly complicates things. Moreover, it seems Cousins would prefer to stay in Minnesota.
The trade market is another route. Justin Fields will continue to be linked to Atlanta because his play style fits Arthur Smith’s offense, but I’m not quite sure he’s the long-term answer to the Falcons’ problems.
The NFL draft could provide that franchise quarterback, though. In fact, if Arthur Smith is retained, the pressure will be on the Falcons to “get it right at quarterback in the 2024 draft,” according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Though I don’t sense panic in Atlanta, Smith needs to show Blank he is the right person to return with strong performances all over the field in the remaining weeks of the season. The owner is 82 years old. He wants to win now. If Smith remains in place, the pressure will be on for the Falcons to get it right at quarterback in the 2024 draft.
There are three potential targets in the upcoming cycle, in my eyes. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels all seem poised to go in the top 10, which would seemingly mean the Falcons would have to move up to land one of them.
Williams and Maye are locks to go in the top 5, but I wouldn’t rule out Daniels making a push to join them. His deep ball is second to none in this class and he’s the most electric quarterback coming out since Lamar Jackson.
The Falcons could do no wrong drafting either of those three quarterbacks.
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Photographer: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire
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