The Falcons hired Raheem Morris as the team’s new head coach this off-season. On Tuesday, Morris explained why general manager Terry Fontenot brought him to Atlanta.
The Falcons were 6-6 and leading the NFC South when the wheels began falling off in Week 14. Atlanta would lose four of its final five games, squandering a chance at the divisional crown.
The team consistently had to overcome spotty quarterback play, as second-year signal-caller Desmond Ridder and veteran NFL journeyman Taylor Heinicke each started multiple games in 2023.
Six of the Falcons’ ten losses last season came by one possession. Ridder and Heinicke failed to lead the offense to double-digits in three of those losses.
Former head coach Arthur Smith got fired after getting blown out each of the final two weeks, paving the way for Raheem Morris to take the reins for Atlanta.
Raheem Morris was honest about the Falcons’ QB situation
During a recent interview at the NFL Scouting Combine, Morris threw shade at the quarterback play from 2023, offering a humorous assessment to reporters.
“If we [Falcons] had better quarterback play last year in Atlanta, I might not be standing here,” Morris said.
New #Falcons HC Raheem Morris on the team’s QB situation: “If we had better quarterback play, I probably will not be standing here at this podium.” pic.twitter.com/iD8qcJ6rsj
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 27, 2024
Later, Morris was asked, “Would you prefer a great young quarterback, or would you prefer a great veteran quarterback?”
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He replied, “I don’t think you can lock yourself into that. Everybody wants a great quarterback. They come in all forms, fashions, shapes, everything that you can talk about.
“You want to go out there and find the quarterback that fits best with you and your people and how you’re building this team.”
Morris’ recent comments confirm the franchise will look outside the current roster for a higher-upside replacement, even if Ridder sticks around as a backup.
The Falcons hold the eighth overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. It may require a trade up the board to secure one of the top signal-callers, with as many as three signal-callers expected in the top ten.
The #Falcons are rumored to trade for Justin Fields, but in today’s mock draft, Atlanta takes a different approach by selecting a polarizing Michigan prospect as the quarterback of the future. #DirtyBirds https://t.co/rQIwQ47Y67
— Hunter Haas (@NFLDraftHaas) February 22, 2024
Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins stand out the most in terms of veterans. Wilson and Cousins boast long track records of leading perennial playoff contenders.
Justin Fields also sits on the peripheral, as the Bears have yet to announce their intentions for Fields. He would blend both sides of the debate for Atlanta, giving them a player with NFL experience who is still only 24 years old.
One thing is for sure: Change is coming for the Falcons at quarterback. Whether via the draft or free agency, fans can look forward to a new leader coming to the ATL.