ESPN NEWS FLASH: Falcons in trouble as the QB that Atlanta pursues depends solely on the coach they hire

Though the search for a new head coach for the Falcons is generating media attention, it is irrelevant who Arthur Blank hires in Atlanta unless the team finds a long-term quarterback answer.

The head coach will fall first, but I contend that the quarterback is the bigger—or at least more significant—doll. And the Falcons’ pursuit of a particular signal caller will depend on who gets brought to Atlanta.

The head coach candidates for the Falcons are listed below; some have already finished their initial interviews, while others have only been requested.

The head coach of the New England Patriots is Bill Belichick. The defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers is Ejiro Evero. The Baltimore Ravens are Mike McDonald. The Detroit Lions are led by Ben Johnson. The Houston Texans are Bobby Slowik. The Los Angeles Rams are led by Raheem Morris. The Detroit Lions are led by Aaron Glenn. The Cincinnati Bengals are led by Brian Callahan. The San Francisco 49ers are led by Antonio Pierce. The Las Vegas Raiders have an interim head coach. Anthony Weaver is the assistant head coach and defensive line coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.
Every contender has unique advantages and disadvantages. In order to help the Falcons return to the postseason and ultimately win their first Super Bowl trophy, each will offer a unique strategy.

Someone like Bill Belichick would probably put the team on the path toward an experienced quarterback, as Matt Ryan recently noted. At this point, taking yet another half-measure doesn’t seem like the right course of action.

The only semi-inspiring free agency alternatives available are Baker Mayfield, Ryan Tannehill, Russell Wilson, and Kirk Cousins; none of them will help the Falcons overcome their obstacles. A trade for Jimmy Garoppolo, who is acquainted with Belichick and may be disposable when the Raiders bring in a new regime, is a possibility.

Ryan further stated that there’s a greater likelihood the Falcons will target a younger quarterback if they choose a younger head coach, such as Johnson, Slowik, Macdonald, etc. While Jayden Daniels and Justin Fields are undoubtedly desirable targets, Caleb Wiliams and Drake Maye appear to have unattainable goals.

With their new head coach, the Falcons might choose to go in a lot of different directions, but Arthur Blank needs to realize that each candidate represents a unique strategy for addressing the quarterback issue.