Mariota not concerned if Falcons take QB in Draft
The chance of being a starting quarterback in the NFL and playing under his former coach Arthur Smith convinced Marcus Mariota to sign with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.
But Mariota is realistic about his opportunity with the Falcons. He knows he might be just a bridge quarterback for the Falcons’ bigger plans at the position. That includes the team drafting a quarterback in next week’s NFL draft.
The Falcons have the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. They could select Liberty’s Malik Willis, Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ritter, or Mississippi’s Matt Corral. If they don’t use that pick on a QB, there’s a chance they could draft with one with a later selection, too.
And if any of that happens, Mariota said this week he was ready for whatever it brought his way on the Falcons depth chart.
“If it’s not me, it’s okay too,” Mariota told the Falcons website. “I’ve been in this situation before. It’s a ‘control what I can control,’ mindset. I have no ego. I can be an ear and listen. Teams are going to do what they’re going to do. If they do draft someone, I’ll give as much advice and knowledge as I can. If not, I’m ready to roll.”
The Titans selected Mariota with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft. He was a starter for four and a half seasons before Tennessee switched to Ryan Tannehill midway through the 2019 campaign. He moved on after that year and spent the last two as a backup to Derek Carr in Las Vegas.
The Falcons gave Mariota a two-year deal in March. The expectation is that he’ll compete for the starting job and get a chance to show he can still potentially be a starter in the league, but even if that does happen, there’s a good chance Atlanta doesn’t view him as the long-term answer at the position. He’s likely the fill-in until they invest in a younger prospect with more upside.
Atlanta hasn’t structured a good plan for its new franchise quarterback. The best quarterback in franchise history, Matt Ryan, was traded to Indianapolis this offseason, and many have wondered why the Falcons didn’t move on last season with a chance to draft a quarterback like Justin Fields.
Mariota joins a Falcons roster that is starving of talent across the board. As such, Atlanta could go a few different ways at No. 8, but regardless, Mariota is embracing the opportunity that’s been handed to him.
“There is nothing guaranteed,” Mariota said. “This is just an opportunity. I feel like I have never been handed anything and I’m excited for this.”