The dust has finally settled on the crazy days that included: the Atlanta Falcons getting into the DeShaun Watson sweepstakes, Watson coming to Atlanta reportedly being a foregone conclusion, Watson going to the Cleveland Browns, and then franchise quarterback Matt Ryan being traded to the Indianapolis Colts anyway. Now, we know that head coach Arthur Smith, general manager Terry Fontenot, and Falcons owner Arthur Blank aren’t calling this a rebuild for Atlanta, but how long will this transition take?
The Falcons plan for their quarterback transition will most likely be revealed after the eighth-overall pick, but definitely after this year’s NFL draft. If the Falcons decide to draft a quarterback with the eighth-overall pick in April’s draft and go with Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, or maybe Matt Corral, then it’s quite clear the Falcons want to have a fast quarterback transition.
The Falcons did sign Marcus Mariota to a two-year, $18.75 million deal last week, indicating Mariota will be the starting quarterback for at least the 2022 season. Now, who knows if the Falcons draft a quarterback in this year’s draft, and they wow Arthur Smith in training camp and the preseason the quarterback transition could happen faster than anticipated.
However, there is the scenario where the Falcons wait to draft a quarterback until the 2023 draft that will most likely include Alabama's Bryce Young and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud. In that scenario Mariota will most likely fulfill his two-year deal with the Falcons and be the mentor for the young quarterback that comes in. Or the Falcons could move on from Mariota to make way for the new hopeful franchise quarterback.
Listen to Atlanta sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Falcons team gear
At best it’s seeming like Falcons fans may have to wait two or three years before cheering on their team in the postseason again. But as we all know, the NFL is a sport built for quick turnarounds. How fast will the turnaround for the Falcons be?