This will not qualify as particularly surprising news, but the Falcons have named Marcus Mariota their starting quarterback. On the first day of training camp earlier this week, quarterbacks coach Charles London confirmed that Mariota will serve as Atlanta’s QB1, while third-round rookie Desmond Ridder will begin his pro career as Mariota’s backup.
“Obviously, we’ve got a plan for each of them,” London said. “Marcus is the starter. That’s how we’re going into this thing” (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic (subscription required)).
Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick of the Titans in the 2015 draft, showed some promise during his five years in Tennessee, including a 2016 campaign in which he threw for 26 TDs against nine interceptions and rushed for 349 yards and a pair of scores. But Ryan Tannehill supplanted Mariota as the Titans’ starter midway through the 2019 season, and Mariota has spent the last two years with the Raiders as Derek Carr‘s backup.
During that time, he saw extended action in only one game, a Week 15 contest in 2020 in which he completed 17 of 28 passes for 226 yards, including a touchdown and an interception, and rushed nine times for 88 yards and a score. That performance was enough to generate trade interest the following offseason, but the structure of Mariota’s contract prevented a deal from being consummated. He ultimately remained with Las Vegas on a reworked pact, and he wound up throwing just two passes in 2021 (though he was occasionally brought in on special packages and rushed 13 times for 87 yards and a TD).
After trading franchise icon Matt Ryan to the Colts in March, the Falcons signed Mariota to a two-year, $18.75MM contract. Even after that signing, the club was said to be considering using its No. 8 overall pick on a collegiate passer, though Atlanta chose to wait until the third round to select a QB. Ridder completed just under 65% of his passes for 30 TDs and eight picks in 2021 — a season in which he took Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff — and has the chance to become the long-term answer for Atlanta under center.
He may be working with the second team as he acclimates to the NFL, but he will be getting plenty of reps. We heard last month that the Falcons would be deploying Feleipe Franks, the only other quarterback on the roster, in more of a hybrid role, and Kendall confirmed that Franks will practice as a tight end for most of camp.
Atlanta is a clueless franchise. Over pay for average players, resign older vets when trying to ‘rebuild’, can’t draft at all, and now not even having a QB competition against Marcus M? Why not?
2016 – Almost won Super Bowl
2017 – Made the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Falcons did EXACTLY what most fans clamor for teams in that situation to do … they spent money. The only problem was, they had to re-negotiate a few players to get cap room. That led to years of salary cap troubles and basically a QB contract that would have left them with huge dead cap hits even if they had traded. So instead, they kept trying to get over the hump.
I can’t stand when fans clamor for teams to fight to make the playoffs and then bash them when they don’t. Yes, in hindsight the Falcons could have started the rebuild after the 2018 season fell apart, but by that time they were already burdened with huge cap issues.
Quite frankly, the old regime did what they could to win, and the newer regime is doing what they can to rebuild. The only clueless part might be Blank’s loyalty to players causing him to overpay, but realistically, the only player that fits that bill is Freeman. Many of us Falcons fans knew Julio was falling apart, but he was worth the risk.
No sir, I don’t think they are clueless, just stuck in the spot of most NFL teams of being good enough for a stretch to go all-in, but not being good enough to actually win it all.
Valid arguments. But 2 years ago, they re-upped J Jones only to release him the following year. Then re-upped Matt only to release him the next year. That’s bad business. They’re sitting on a LB owed $20m and don’t want him.
As for no competition for Mariota, well that says it all to me. Let the rookie play and see what happens. Texans did that last year and were comfortable enough w/ him to build other parts of the roster waiting on a better QB, either through trade, FA or draft.
Some valid points but the Falcons are like the Yankees unlimited money, great farm system and always an elite short stop waiting in the wings
On the first paragraph they really had two choices. Extend those guys and try for one last go or start a difficult rebuild. In hindsight, I think every single one of us would say they should have started earlier and just taken two years of ridiculous dead cap hits, but I think that silly SB run caused the Falcons brass to believe in the team far too much.
I love the Mariota signing even without Ridder. He is good enough to start in this league and FAR cheaper. Not a bad play, and if he implodes he certainly isn’t being paid enough to block Ridder.
As a lifelong Falcons fan I am just glad we are starting to try to fix the mess. I will actually enjoy watching some of these new faces this year.
And to the other comments, yes indeed, the Braves and Dawgs have taken the edge off things for the Falcons.
UGA just won the Natty. If I lived in Georgia, I wouldn’t consider the Falcons existing anymore lol.
There was the Braves winning the World Series too but sometimes there is an advantage to not being on anyone’s radar.
Maybe based on what they are seeing from the rookie in camp?
Could be. But why try for a 5-6 win season? How does that help the team? Lots of high end QB’s should be in the draft next year from what I’ve read this summer.
I get your logic, Arty- but I don’t think Mariota gets them to 5 or 6 wins. I really don’t see him as a good starter. He’s an excellent back up, and LV used him perfectly. As a starter, I think he’s going to get exposed though.
That said, I think it makes sense for Atlanta to start him. The alternative is to send a raw, unproven Ridder out onto the field to get annihilated. They obviously thought enough of Ridder to draft him though, so they may as well protect him.
That makes sense. Trying to help him avoid the Sam ” I see ghosts” Darnold path!
Yeap, don’t feed him to the wolves and get him shell shocked.
Could be a very, very long season for the Falcons
They’re rolling with MM at QB, I think that’s the plan….
Duh
Someone’s making a Super Bowl run…
Not too late to get Jimmy G
Marcus Mariota will be more than serviceable and allow Ridder to get some time to acclimate himself while holding the clipboard. They have nothing to gain by throwing a raw 3rd round (albeit talented) QB into this situation. Also, no need to send more draft capital to obtain another QB. This franchise is a couple years away from being back on track, I see no problem with choosing to go with a veteran play caller this season.
Who will get the 1st overall pick next year?
My guess is one of these three: Falcons, Giants, or Bears.
I think the lions play too hard, jaguars will improve, jets will improve, and the Texans and Panthers just won’t be so bad that they will be a bottom team in the league