The Atlanta Falcons have emerged as a potential suitor for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. That’s a surprise to say the least.
The Falcons traded away Matt Ryan earlier this offseason, sending him to the Indianapolis Colts, who also participated in the quarterback carousel by trading Carson Wentz to Washington. Can you keep up?
Garoppolo is expected to be the final piece to this offseason puzzle. The 49ers are moving forward with Trey Lance as their undisputed starter. Garoppolo has proven he’s good enough to take a team to the playoffs when healthy and surrounded with the right offense and talent. However, when it comes to making that big throw, something is missing.
Are the Falcons really a winning situation for him?
Frankly, if Garoppolo wants to start, it does not matter. He’ll take any gig he can get at this juncture.
NFL rumors: Falcons make play for Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy G is a decent starting quarterback at this point of his career, but is he beneficial to the Falcons rebuild? When Atlanta traded away Ryan, they took a step back. Whatever interim phase that follows will likely not be a successful one.
One look at Atlanta’s depth chart suggests Garoppolo would be the frontrunner to start, or at least in a battle to do so with Marcus Mariota. This isn’t to mention Desmond Ridder, who is supposed to be the quarterback of the future.
Setting him back another year, or perhaps further, by making him third-string feels like the wrong course of action.
Could the Falcons win two, or perhaps even three more games with Garoppolo under center? There’s an argument to be made, sure. But they’re still a middling team at best, in a division that belongs to Tom Brady until further notice.
All Garoppolo adds is salary.