There have been rumors that the Atlanta Falcons are expected to upgrade the quarterback position via the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, despite having two currently under contract with them.
This sounds plausible as part of their rebuilding process under the new management, as newly minted offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said during his introductory press conference that “all options are on the table.”
“Whether it’s a pocket guy, whether it’s a guy that can move around a little bit, we’re just looking for the best guy that we can do,” said Robinson on Wednesday via ESPN. “We certainly know the guys that are here; we’re evaluating everybody, so Taylor (Heinicke) and Desmond (Ridder), we’re looking at those guys. All options are on the table.”
Robinson and new head coach Raheem Morris are inheriting a good offensive core, with the likes of Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London in the fold, which is why finding the right signal-caller is paramount to fulfilling their potential.
Atlanta Falcons’ QB play in 2023
Three different players started under center for the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. Desmond Ridder started 13 games, while Taylor Heinicke started the other four, and Logan Woodside only played a couple of snaps in their final regular-season game.
Ridder recorded 3,544 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions for a 64.2 percent completion percentage. With him under center, the Atlanta Falcons went 6-7.
Heinicke, on the other hand, went 1-3 in his four starts. Overall, he had 890 passing yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions for a 54.4 completion percentage.
And last but not least, Logan Woodside tallied 27 passing yards and one interception against the New Orleans Saints. He will become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
What are the options for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2024 NFL Draft?
By the time the Atlanta Falcons get to use their eighth overall pick, the three best quarterback prospects (Caleb Williama, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye) will likely be off the board, and the only way to get either one of them is if they trade up, using either Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke as trade chips.
Another option for them is to sit back and draft the likes of either Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, or JJ McCarthy, which is something worth considering.