Team cuts Mariota to pursue another QB
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot last Tuesday cleared the path for Atlanta to pursue another quarterback.
Fontenot, speaking at the NFL combine, said he was impressed by rookie Desmond Ridder’s showing in December. But the Falcons plan to add at the position, he said, and Atlanta is diving into options in the draft, free agency and the trade market.
Atlanta opened a spot in the quarterback room by releasing veteran Marcus Mariota on Tuesday, Feb. 28, Fontenot confirmed.
Mariota, who signed a twoyear deal with the Falcons before the 2022 season, was benched in favor of Ridder for the final three games of the season, then was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Before that point, the 29-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner had completed 61.3% of his passes for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
“We really appreciate Marcus and all the things he did while he was here,” Fontenot said.
“Ultimately, we’re going to add at the position,” he said. “We’re always going to leave every door open. Whether it’s the (eighth pick) or some other point in the draft, we could definitely bring in a quarterback. We don’t want to box ourselves in.”
The Falcons have the No. 8 pick in the first round and are a projected $75 million below the 2023 salary cap, meaning no contract is too onerous for the franchise to absorb. It’s part of the reason the team is consistently connected to rumors around Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“If you have a lot of cap space, that means you have a lot of work to do,” Fontenot said.
Ridder, 23, became prominent in the team’s plans at this event last February. Fontenot cited the then-Cincinnati QB as the player who stood out the most in a sea of 330 prospects, and he met personally with 50 prospects along with his scouting staff and coaches.
But if the chance to upgrade at “critical positions” presents itself, Fontenot said the Falcons will investigate those options.