'We Need To Go Get Them!' Falcons GM Terry Fontenot Reveals Offseason Plan
From goofy interviews about which head coach would run the fastest 40-yard dash to conspiracy theories about birds and power lines, the media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine can be a mixed bag. However, front-office executives are allowed to air their thoughts, too, as the new league year quickly approaches.
The Atlanta Falcons are done messing around.
Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot has started his offseason in promising fashion, hiring head coach Raheem Morris and building one of the cycle’s most well-respected staffs. The time to improve the roster is right around the corner.
Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot on the SiriusXM radio set during the NFL Scouting Combine at Indiana Convention Center.
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Of course, that starts with the quarterback situation that failed Atlanta in 2023. Desmond Ridder’s struggles held back a fairly competitive roster which may be a quarterback away from postseason play.
As such, two options have increased in popularity. The Falcons seem likely to either trade for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields or take the quarterback position to the NFL Draft, where they hold the No. 8 pick.
Fontenot spoke about Atlanta’s strategy on Thursday.
“We are clear with our needs,” Fontenot said. “And we need to go get them.”
That certainly sounds like figuring out who will be under center. Especially when Morris was brutally honest about the team’s quarterback play earlier in the week.
“If we had better quarterback play I may not be standing here at the podium,” Morris said.
The Falcons defense fared well last year, and the trio of Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts almost certainly have additional potential left to be tapped into. Given the state of the NFC South, a quarterback upgrade of any kind could be the difference between another No. 8 pick and hosting a playoff game.
With hype continuing to build for a potential Fields homecoming, it’s easy to list that possibility as the favorite. Although it is worth noting Fontenot didn’t rule out any type of acquisition.
With up to four quarterbacks tracking for the top 10, Atlanta’s fate could very well lie in the hands of a rookie quarterback — a development that may tie the administration to a particular player.
As their respective stocks continue to fluctuate, fans can rest assured Fontenot will be aggressive in re-energizing the fanbase by any means necessary.
