Atlanta Falcons, NFL Free Agency

Falcons replace Matt Ryan in less than 2 hours

Marcus Mariota replaces Matt Ryan as the next starting quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons.

Check in on your friends who root for the Atlanta Falcons, as Marcus Mariota is replacing Matt Ryan.

The former face of the franchise was dealt to the Indianapolis Colts for a third-round pick in the aftermath of the Deshaun Watson trade debacle. Ryan goes to a team that will contend for a division title, possibly even Super Bowls in the next few years. As for the Falcons, they are so rebuilding. Mariota reunites with his former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

This will be a two-year deal that brings the former Titans starting quarterback and Las Vegas Raiders backup to Atlanta.

Marcus Mariota replaces Matt Ryan as Atlanta Falcons quarterback in two hours

As bleak as things are right now for Dirty Bird Nation, Mariota suffices the perfect bridge quarterback for what this downtrodden franchise is in dire need of. He showed signs of promise with the Titans, but ultimately lost his job to Ryan Tannehill. After serving as Derek Carr’s high-quality backup the last two years, Mariota now has a chance to be an NFL starter once again.

Of course, Mariota is not a long-term solution at the quarterback position in Atlanta. Ideally, the Falcons brass will either draft its new franchise quarterback, either this spring or next. Atlanta has the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, one where they can reach on Kenny Pickett out of Pitt or local product Malik Willis out of Liberty. There is also a much deeper pool of prospects in 2023.

The 2023 NFL Draft class could feature the likes of Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, South Carolina transfer Spencer Rattler and Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei, among others. Ultimately, Atlanta has positioned itself to address the quarterback position in one of the next two drafts, while having a more than capable stop-gap starter and a first-class individual in Mariota.

It is going to be a challenging next few years, but the Falcons have a starting quarterback again.

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