New Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was straightforward when discussing his quarterback situation heading into the 2024 season.
“If we had better quarterback play, maybe I wouldn't be here on the podium,” Morris said at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday.
The Falcons went 7-10 in a mediocre NFC South last season, and head coach Arthur Smith switched between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke throughout the season.
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Head coach Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 27, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Falcons fans were desperate for one of those quarterbacks to thrive with solid offensive weapons around him, including Kyle Pitts, Drake London and Bijan Robinson, all first-round draft picks.
Ridder, a 2022 third-round draft pick, was rated the worst starting quarterback in the NFL (38th overall), according to Pro Football Focus. Heinicke didn't do much to earn the job in the five games he played.
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Both quarterbacks are on the depth chart heading into 2024, but based on Morris' comments, neither is the guy you want to see come Week 1.
So all options are on the table for Atlanta, which owns the eighth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and has assets to make a trade.
Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 13, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Atlanta is expected to be in play for Justin Fields, the Bears' first-round pick who could be on the move if general manager Ryan Poles decides to start over with a rookie quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Falcons also have $32.8 million in projected cap space to sign a free agent quarterback like veteran Kirk Cousins.
Head coach Raheem Morris of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 27, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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The Falcons could also use the eighth overall pick on a quarterback, although Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are expected to be gone by the time Atlanta picks. The Falcons could also target quarterbacks like Michael Penix Jr. or JJ McCarthy.
