The Atlanta Falcons are one of the most obvious quarterback-needy teams this offseason, and there are a few directions they could go. Buzz around the NFL Combine apparently is that they’re zeroed in on a specific target: Kirk Cousins.
Atlanta has the makings of an electric offense, but since the decline and departure of Matt Ryan have yet to find a quarterback who can help them reach their full potential. After giving things a go with Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, it seems clear that they need a quarterback who is at least another tier up.
Cousins represents the best option on the free agent market this year. He has his flaws, no doubt, but the 35-year-old has proven over the years he can keep an offense afloat. Further, he would undoubtedly have the strongest body of work between the three other quarterbacks Atlanta have tried recently.
Although Cousins wouldn’t be a long-term solution given his age, he would help the Falcons’ prospects of winning now in an NFC South that is up for grabs. And with Atlanta set to pick at No. 8 in the draft, there’s a real possibility that there wouldn’t be a sure thing quarterback prospect waiting for them at that slot. The Falcons have also been linked to Justin Fields should the Bears move him, but a trade probably isn’t preferable to signing a free agent.
WSB TV’s Zach Klein joined Dukes & Bell on Thursday and said the chatter in Indianapolis this week is that the Falcons have their sights set on Cousins.
"Everybody I’ve talked to says the logical thing is for them to (make) a veteran move. All eyes, all arrows, everything points towards Kirk Cousins – and Arthur Blank has basically told his front office that. Do what you’ve got to do, pay what you’ve got to pay, get it done.
“So, everybody I’ve talked to – agents, other coaches and scouts, guys around the league – that’s the feeling that they are saying. What they are hearing is that the Falcons will put all their attention on Kirk Cousins moving forward. Now, Terry (Fontenot) is not saying that, Raheem (Morris) is not saying that, but that’s what guys around the league are talking about.”
While the Falcons won’t tip their hand as to who they’re looking at, Fontenot told Andy & Randy earlier this week that there’s one attribute in particular he’s looking for in their next quarterback.
Comments / 0