'Really Good Group': Atlanta Falcons' Raheem Morris, Terry Fontenot Talk QBs in Draft

The Atlanta Falcons will add a third quarterback before the start of the season - and head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot believe the NFL Draft is a viable avenue to fulfill that need.

Feb 5, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot addresses the media at head coach Raheem Morris's introductory press conference. / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

After years of trying, the Atlanta Falcons believe they've found an answer at quarterback in Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract this spring.

And yet, as preparation for the 2024 NFL Draft reaches the home stretch, Atlanta finds itself in a similar spot - pondering signal callers.

But unlike years past, the Falcons aren't necessarily looking at the draft's premiere options. Instead, it's a matter of depth.

Both Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris said at the league's annual owners meetings March 26 they'll be adding another quarterback to the room behind Cousins and backup Taylor Heinicke.

Will the move be made during the draft? Fontenot made no promises.

"Could be," Fontenot said. "We're going to definitely add a quarterback - we're not going to go into the season with two arms. But it could be the draft, it could be before or after the draft. And we'll be open minded about how we go through that."

Feb 5, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot addresses the media at head coach Raheem Morris's introductory press conference. / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta decided to keep Heinicke over Desmond Ridder as Cousins' backup, with Morris citing the 31-year-old Heinicke's track record in the role as a key to the decision.

But Heinicke's contract is set to expire after the 2024 season, and Cousins, who has $90 million guaranteed over the first two years of his deal but only $10 million in the final two, isn't a surefire bet to be on the roster in 2026.

As such, the Falcons have long-term question marks under center.

They've spent extensive time with University of Washington signal caller Michael Penix Jr., including a formal meeting at the NFL Combine, sending assistant general manager Kyle Smith to his pro day and a group led by Morris and Fontenot flying five hours for a private workout.

Atlanta also sent a contingency to see University of South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler's pro day following a formal meeting at the Combine.

And while Fontenot didn't commit to the draft avenue, Morris mentioned it several times when discussing the need for a third arm.

"We're still going to add another person, obviously," Morris said. "You pay that kind of money, Kirk's going out there No. 1, go get Taylor to back him up. You figure out what you can do in this draft or moving forward any further and see what you can do to add to that room and make it highly competitive still."

Teams usually don't expense first-round picks on a No. 3 quarterback, especially those in positions like the Falcons, who believe they can snap a six-year playoff drought in 2024.

Fontenot and Morris have said Atlanta will continue to add pass rushers, cornerbacks and receivers in addition to quarterbacks. Most pundits peg the Falcons, who hold the No. 8 overall pick, as the spot for the first defensive player to come off the board.

Prior to signing Cousins, Atlanta pondered drafting a quarterback in the first frame - it was particularly fond of LSU's Jayden Daniels.

But the Falcons' brain trust decided the addition of an established player - Cousins - was the best pathway to immediate success. In turn, Atlanta went back to the film room on the draft's signal callers, now with a different type of need at the position.

"We got a pretty good jump on those guys, and we have to go back and reevaluate those guys for the draft again, because our situation has changed," Morris said.

During that jump, which took place in the lead-up to the Combine, the Falcons felt confident in their rankings of the signal callers. Better yet, Fontenot liked the class he and his staff had evaluated.

"It's a really good group," Fontenot said before the Combine. "It's a strong draft overall, the quarterback position is strong, and you have some different types, too. Guys that do it different ways, but it's a really good group. So it's very, very exciting."

Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson comes from the Sean McVay coaching tree, which has long featured pocket passers, but Robinson said during his introductory press conference Feb. 14 his scheme doesn't exclude mobile options.

And as Atlanta continues to narrow down its options for a No. 3 passer, it has a laundry list of boxes to check to satisfy Robinson's preferences.

"That’s got to be the most competitive guy in the room," Robinson said of quarterbacks. "They’ve got to have mental, physical toughness. They’ve got to be able to think. They’ve got to have mental capacity. They’ve got to be able to throw the football accurately. They’ve got to have the inventory of throws – pace, touch.

"They’ve got to be able to drive it when they need it, and then they’ve got to have poise - they’ve got to have competitive greatness."

Now, the Falcons' brass aims to find a player who embodies the characteristics Robinson wants - all the while weighing value and the ever-tight line between winning now and setting a long-term foundation.

And they have less than two weeks to do so.