The Falcons’ Search for a Quarterback: A Tale of Missed Opportunities and Hope
The quarterback position is the most important position in football. It can make or break a team’s season, and the Atlanta Falcons know this all too well. Since trading away their longtime quarterback Matt Ryan in 2022, the Falcons have been on a desperate search for a successor. However, their journey has been filled with missed opportunities and disappointment.
The Falcons initially pursued Deshaun Watson, but he ended up signing a massive contract with the Cleveland Browns. They then turned to Marcus Mariota, who was ultimately benched due to poor performance. In the 2022 draft, they selected Desmond Ridder in the third round, but the quarterback prospects that year were slim. As a result, Ridder, along with other drafted quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell, have all been traded and are now backups on their new teams.
The Falcons’ struggles at the quarterback position have led to a lackluster record and the firing of their former coach. As they entered the 2024 offseason, they were once again in desperate need of a quarterback.
But then, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of Kirk Cousins. The former Minnesota Vikings quarterback became available in free agency, and the Falcons saw him as the answer to their prayers. After Cousins made the drive from Michigan to Georgia, the Falcons signed him, hoping he would be the solution to their quarterback woes.
With Cousins at the helm, the Falcons’ offense is set to undergo a major transformation. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, plans to implement a similar style of offense that he learned from McVay. This means a heavy emphasis on the 11 personnel formation, which the Falcons have not utilized much in recent years.
Under Cousins’ former coordinator Kevin O’Connell, the Vikings ran the 11 personnel formation 70.3% of the time. This could be a sign of what’s to come for the Falcons’ offense.
Cousins’ track record speaks for itself. In his time with the Vikings, he completed over 67% of his passes for nearly 7,000 yards, 47 touchdowns, and only 19 interceptions. In comparison, the Falcons’ quarterbacks since 2022 have only completed 61.8% of their passes for 6,223 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions.
With Cousins at the helm, the Falcons finally have a reliable and accurate quarterback. He also brings experience working with high-level players, such as receivers Justin Jefferson and Darnell Mooney, and running back Dalvin Cook. In Atlanta, he will have a talented group of young players to work with, including receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, and running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
The Falcons’ search for a quarterback has been a long and arduous journey, but with the signing of Cousins, they finally have a sense of stability at the position. He brings a level of consistency and leadership that the team has been missing since Ryan’s departure. The Falcons can now enter the season with hope and
