After a brief stint as a starter in the NFL once again, Marcus Mariota is set to move on to his next team. The Falcons announced on Tuesday that they have released the veteran quarterback. 
The 29-year-old found himself in Atlanta last offseason after the Falcons moved on from franchise icon Matt Ryan. The former signed a two-year, $18.75MM deal to operate as a stop-gap option under center and attempt to rebuild his value. It marked his first opportunity to take on a No. 1 role since his time with the Titans came to an end in 2019.
The former second overall pick put up numbers roughly in line with his career averages in a number of categories across 13 starts this season. That came as little surprise given his age and previous shortcomings as a starter, along with the pieces around him on a rebuilding Falcons team. Atlanta remained committed to him through much of the campaign, one which contained the possibility of a postseason berth due to the weakness of the NFC South.
Things changed during the bye week, however, when the offense was turned over to rookie Desmond Ridder. That decision signaled the end of Mariota’s time as a No. 1 in Atlanta for 2022 and beyond, which itself suggested a release could be coming in the offseason. Ridder has drawn praise from the team for his play in the final four games of the season, though he has not been fully endorsed as the 2023 starter.
The other factor which pointed to Mariota being let go, of course, was the knee injury which led him to leave the team and ultimately undergo season-ending surgery. In a span of a few days, confusion reigned as it came out that he would step away from the team to have the chronic issue evaluated, then be shut down for the year. The decision to install Ridder as the new starter was said to be separate from Mariota’s injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his market.
The latter now joins Derek Carr and Carson Wentz as veteran signal-callers free to sign anywhere before free agency begins next week. While Carr has drawn considerable interest from multiple teams, Mariota is likely headed for a similar situation to Wentz in terms of eyeing another opportunity to compete for a starting job in training camp, or a high-end No. 2 role behind an established starter. With Mariota off the books, the Falcons will save $12MM in cap space, leaving them comfortably in second place in the league with respect to spending power as free agency approaches.
Mariota is an average backup at best somewhere
This will give him time to focus on his Netflix documentary
as an Eagles fan, I still cringe at the mention of him because chip “the dope” kelly wanted to draft him so badly
Have more than half of the QBs picked at #2 overall been busts. The recent ones are pretty firmly in that category, though Wentz was impressive early on before injuries derailed him. Mariota, Trubisky, and Wilson are pretty firmly in the backup category now. None of them are the worst at #2, though. That honor would go to Ryan Leaf, though I believe Rick Mirer would fall in behind him. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a true success story at #2, though I’m sure they are there.
You could throw RGIII in there too. Probably more like Wentz though as injuries derailed a very promising start
RG3 was a star in the making with the Washington Redskins until he tore his knee on the craptacular grass of FedEx Field.
was RG3 a star in the making? or a sacrificial lamb running a read-option?
I think McNabb would be the last success at #2 overall.
Here you go, friend! A fun thing to peek at! A list of EVERY QB ever drafted at #2. Some good ones, but you mostly have to go back a ways…
link to jetswire.usatoday.com
Addendum – list only goes to 2017…
Any number of Vikings picks had no hope.
Tells me that Combine weekend is a bustout for “evaluators” of talent.
What?
can be good as a backup and maybe steer the ship when an elite qb goes down
Wouldn’t be surprised to see him back in Tennessee – as they are going to stink and need someone cheap to take the snap this year.
Flacons are better without him. Better off rebuilding than trying to win with a vet
Falcons totally missed on the draft when they took Kyle Pitts. They should have drafted Justin Fields.
He’d be a great backup to Hurts, given his ability to run an RPO.