With the NFL Combine next week, the rumour mill should really start to whirl, especially for a team like the Falcons, who are expected to be quite aggressive in their quest for a quarterback.
Terry Fontenot, Raheem Morris, and the rest of Atlanta’s staff will scout the draft class, which includes three great prospects at the top: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels.
Furthermore, the organization’s executives will consult with other clubs regarding prospective trades and free agent representation to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the quarterback markets before making a choice.
Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields are the two most popular (and feasible) goals among the fan base, at least according to social media, excluding the top three draft prospects.
One is a veteran who can come in right away and help the Falcons compete, but he does not offer long-term sustainability. The other is a skilled but underachieving player with a very high ceiling who, given his age, might be the club’s next franchise quarterback if he reaches his full potential.
Baker Mayfield, who is coming off a stellar year and may test the free agent market, may be a good fit for both short-term and long-term aspirations.
Mayfield, like Kirk Cousins, is young enough to provide the Falcons with more than a few years of service. At the same time, he’s capable of helping the Falcons compete in 2024 after leading the Buccaneers to the divisional round last season, which is not a given with Fields.
Mayfield may not have the same high ceiling as Fields or be as productive as Cousins in 2024, but he is a good mix of both. Ian Rapoport was already familiar with Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson, so he connected the two sides.
“Coaches around the league admire Mayfield’s competitiveness and skill level, so he’ll surely have interest on the market — perhaps even from AFC South-rival Atlanta, where former Rams assistants Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson are now in charge.”
The former No. 1 overall pick spent a portion of the 2022 season with the Rams, starting four games with Sean McVay calling plays and Robinson as position coach.
In comparison to last year, Mayfield had moderate success with the Buccaneers. In 2021, he threw four touchdowns, two interceptions, and 850 yards on 63.6% passing in four starts, while in Tampa Bay, he threw for a career-high 28 touchdowns and 4,044 yards on 64.3%.
Now he’s going to turn it into a multi-year contract, and the Falcons might be the team to sign him in free agency. According to BetOnline, if Mayfield left Tampa, Atlanta is his most likely free agent destination.
It would make sense for both parties. I’m not sure whether Baker Mayfield can lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl; most likely not, but this team should focus on returning to the postseason before thinking about hoisting the Lombardi.
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