Falcons 'Got to Get Quarterback Right', Says Terry Fontenot
As the Atlanta Falcons arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the beginning of the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris made one thing clear: they are looking for a new quarterback.
Morris went as far as to say that he wouldn't be the Falcons coach if it weren't for the struggles of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke last season. After a third-straight 7-10 season with a roster that now has three first-round playmakers offensively, the Falcons know just how important finding their next quarterback is.
“We’ve got to get it right, and that’s real clear. We haven’t shied away from that,” Fontenot said during Tuesday's press conference. “We know that’s critical to get that position right, but it doesn’t stop there. We have to get the right quarterback in, and we have to improve this entire roster and get ready to roll this season.”
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It seems like a good time for the Falcons to be looking for a quarterback. Not only will the Falcons potentially have a chance at finding one in a draft, where Fontenot said himself possesses a "strong" group of signal-callers, but they also have more experienced options.
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields has been the hot name surrounding the Falcons lately. Due to the Bears having the No. 1 overall pick and Fields not having developed into the franchise quarterback they were hoping for, his status is seemingly up in the air.
Then there are free-agent options like current Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins or Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield. So, how do the Falcons go about selecting their next franchise guy?
It's everything you do. The scouts work really hard. We have a great scouting staff, and they're in the schools; they are talking to everybody, ..." Fontenot said. "It's what you see on the film. It's us spending time with them. ... So you gather as much information as you can, and you put everything together. But it's not a perfect science."
It is not a "perfect science," as Fontenot said, which is probably shown by the Falcons being in this position in the first place.
The Falcons will use the combine to judge this class of prospective quarterbacks further while simultaneously evaluating the veteran options that are also available. So, while it is unclear who will be the starting quarterback for the Falcons next season, it does seem clear that neither Ridder nor Heinicke will be the guy in Atlanta.
