Three years ago, the Atlanta Falcons hired an offensive-minded head coach, hoping Arthur Smith could lead one of the best scoring attacks in the NFL. But a strong case could be made that the Falcons front office never provided Coach Smith with a franchise quarterback. Now, with Raheem Morris coaching the Falcons, Atlanta’s front office knows they have to improve at the QB position before kicking off the 2024 season.
But the Falcons don’t have a top-three pick, and the options in free agency are somewhat limited when it comes to finding a better QB solution. That doesn’t mean the Falcons won’t have a few opportunities, but they may have to get creative.
In an effort to avoid another seven-win season, here are six potential Falcons quarterback solutions for 2024.
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Ryan Tannehill bridges the gap for Ridder, or someone else
We know there are far more exciting options available than a soon-to-be 36-year-old Ryan Tannehill, who’s set for free agency. Yet, we can’t help but wonder if Arthur Smith could have made it work with his former QB. We’ll never know, but that doesn’t mean the Falcons shouldn’t consider him as a stopgap, either to continue developing Desmond Ridder or for the 11-year veteran to help teach another new prospect.
Yet, as far as plugging in Tannehill and expecting a high-powered offense? It probably won’t happen, and for that reason, there are better options available.
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Falcons gamble with trade for Justin Fields
If the Chicago Bears decide to take Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick, it doesn’t make much sense to hold onto Justin Fields too. The former first-round pick is likely to be traded this offseason, and some NFL insiders don’t expect it to cost more than two Day 2 picks.
If that’s the cost, it won’t hurt for the Falcons to see if the soon-to-be 25-year-old rushing threat can develop into a better passer, especially by moving from the Windy City to a climate-controlled atmosphere like Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Again, there are other options that may be more enticing, but if the Falcons don’t fall in love with another attainable NFL Draft QB prospect, pivoting to Fields may be the best solution.
Atlanta Falcons trade for Jake Browning
Joe Burrow suffered another season-ending injury, ruining the Cincinnati Bengals’ chances of returning to the Super Bowl. Yet, their franchise quarterback’s absence allowed Jake Browning to show he belongs in the NFL. The Bengals likely don’t want one of the top backup quarterbacks in the NFL to depart this offseason, but if a team makes a strong enough offer, Cincinnati may see the value in allowing the former undrafted QB to chase his dream elsewhere.
Browning is set to be an exclusive-rights restricted free agent, which means he can only negotiate with the Bengals, and they can sign him for the ERFA minimum of $915K. That’s a bargain for any team, which could cause others, like the Falcons to see what Browning’s trade cost would be. Set to turn 28 next season, Browning’s value likely tops out at a third-round pick, if that, considering his very small sample size.
- Jake Browning’s stats: 70.4% comp. rate, 215.1 YPG, 12 TD, 7 INT, 16th-ranked QB by PFF
While the Bengals will be very hesitant to trade their top backup QB, knowing that Browning will just be set to re-enter free agency next offseason, getting some value for him now before losing him for nothing could be appealing for Cincinnati.
Related: NFL QB rankings: See where Desmond Ridder ranks
Drafting a rookie QB is best long-term plan for Falcons
Other names above and below this section may help the Falcons win more ballgames in 2024, but at some point, they need to find a long-term franchise QB. Yet, as we know, the Falcons can’t force that. They can’t control how good a prospect is or whether they fall to Atlanta’s draft slot. The simple reality is that sometimes there isn’t a quarterback worthy of a top pick, and the Falcons shouldn’t just take a QB just to say they tried. This front office needs to ensure they get the right fit.
At this point, selecting eighth, it’s hard to envision the Falcons being in an ideal place to land a QB through the draft, at least in the first round. Right now, the consensus points to Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels all going in the top three picks to each of the teams desperate for improved QB play. That leaves the Falcons trying to force a square peg into a round hole, where there are three QBs with first-round grades, but not four.
This leaves the Falcons with a few options. They can either trade down from eight and land in a place they feel more comfortable taking a prospect like J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, or Michael Penix Jr. Or, the Falcons could try and stand pat at 43, hoping someone they like falls to the second round. Another route would be to trade up from 43, sneaking into the back of the first round to pluck a QB while securing the option to have a fifth season of control over their new prospect. Ultimately, if the Falcons are convinced any of the quarterback prospects not named Williams, Maye, or Daniels can be franchise solutions, then Atlanta can’t afford not to grab one.
Kirk Cousins would be ideal, but is he available?
Perhaps more so than any other player on this list, Kirk Cousins would be the perfect fit for the Atlanta Falcons. But why would he leave the Minnesota Vikings? He’s mentioned his desire to retire in Minnesota on several occasions, and they have arguably one of the best casts of pass-catchers in the NFL, plus a bright offensive-minded head coach.
Yet, sometimes money talks, and the Falcons are one of the most QB-desperate teams in the NFL. Atlanta has built its own collection of young talent, with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. It’s not like Cousins wouldn’t have plenty of capable receivers.
Then there’s the fact that Cousins married his wife, Julie, in Atlanta, Georgia back in 2014. His wife grew up in Alpharetta, so if there’s one other place Cousins and his family might enjoy similarly to his time in Minnesota, it might be Atlanta, and that gives the Falcons a fighting chance.
Russell Wilson could experience late-career resurgence in Atlanta
Now we’re finally to what may be the most realistic QB solution for the Falcons in 2024. Sure, Russell Wilson’s reputation around the NFL is not what it once was after winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. Yet, no one can deny his arm talent. Wilson still graded as the 18th-best QB according to Pro Football Focus in 2023. That doesn’t sound great, but it’s lightyears ahead of Desmond Ridder, who finished dead last, ranking 39th among all QBs who played enough snaps.
If the Falcons could manage seven wins with a QB room of Taylor Heinicke plus Ridder, imagine what Russ could do instead? He’s 35, but quarterbacks with his arm talent have been playing well into their late 30s, and this is still a guy who’s made nine Pro Bowl teams.
While Wilson is still under contract with the Denver Broncos, he’s expected to either be traded or released this offseason. A trade likely wouldn’t cost the Falcons much at all, and it may even include the Broncos picking up the bulk of Wilson’s 2024 salary, yet signing him allows Atlanta to dictate their own contract terms. Either way, the idea of adding Wilson to the Falcons should be viewed as a win-win in Atlanta.
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