The Atlanta Falcons benched Marcus Mariota late in the 2022 season. As the team is currently constructed, Mariota looked like a bad fit. Having started only thirteen games for the Falcons, Marcus Mariota failed to make an everlasting impact on the team. This wasn’t, however, the first time, as Marcus Mariota was deprived of a starting role since his days with the Tennessee Titans back in 2019.

Atlanta wasn’t the ideal destination for Marcus, but he arrived in hopes of a starting role. Surrounded by a bad supporting cast, Mariota put up fifteen touchdowns, nine interceptions, and an 88.2 passer rating, eventually getting benched for Desmond Ridder. As the situation currently stands, Marcus Mariota has been released by the Atlanta Falcons in what is speculated to be a salary cap move.

A numbers game

With Marcus Mariota out of the picture, the Atlanta Falcons are in dire need of a capable quarterback. Even while joining the Atlanta Falcons, as per ESPN, Mariota himself was well aware of the challenge that he had to conquer, “When I was going into free agency [last year], I kind of understood that if I got a chance to play again, it was really going to be probably my last shot, Most guys don’t even really get a second shot”

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Since releasing the quarterback, the Atlanta Falcons have managed to save $12 million on their cap for the 2023 season. The Falcons enjoy the second-most cap space in the entire NFL, allowing them to enlist star power within their ranks.

The Falcons General manager Terry Fontenot shed some light on the matter during the NFL combine, “When we did his contract originally, it was structured in that way to where we would make a decision after the season and the way that the [salary cap] number was going to go up.”

The Falcons don’t necessarily need to look outside their organization for a replacement, as many feel that Desmond Ridder is the one next in line.

The next successor

Desmond Ridder’s name has often come up as the potential replacement for the quarterback position. However, both the coach and the GM have tactfully refrained from revealing any starters.

The GM of the Falcons, Terry Fontenot praised Ridder’s efforts and showed confidence in him, “We’re going to add to the position, and we’ve been really clear with how we feel about Desmond Ridder and what he’s done to this point in his career, His makeup and just the way he’s handled every role that he’s been in and what he did over the last four games of the season. He dealt with adversity. Desmond’s done some good things and we know he’s going to continue to improve this offseason.”

While the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Smith revealed Ridder, Tyler Allgeier, and Drake London as his three top choices within the roster. He mentioned that the team was keeping its options open, and the decisions would be made keeping the structure of the team in mind.

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