As speculation grows as to what the team will do about its starting quarterback vacancy, Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot confirmed that the team is leaving no stone unturned in its search for a quality lead passer.
Fontenot spoke to The NFL Report about the team’s QB search. While not giving out specifics about what the Falcons were looking for, he stated the team would do what it could to find the right candidate.
“We have a lot of really smart people in the building,” said Fontenot as reported by Pro Football Talk. “We’re going to spend a lot of time together, make sure we attack it the right way. We’re not going to close any doors, be it trades, free agency, the draft. We will make sure we keep an open mind there and we’re going to attack it and make sure we get it right.”
Fontenot’s statements mirror those of new Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who told ESPN “all options are on the table” last week.
Early speculation on a future Falcons QB by some observers centers on current Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins and Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields. The Falcons also have the number eight draft pick but would have to trade up to get the top prospects.
The Falcons are under pressure to ace their quarterback search. The team has placed Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, and Taylor Heinicke in the starting passer role in the last two seasons, to disappointing results.
Also, Robinson told ESPN that Ridder and Heinicke are being considered to continue in their current QB roles.
“Whether it’s a pocket guy, whether it’s a guy that can move around a bit, we’re just looking for the best guy,” said Robinson. “Certainly [we] know the guys that are here, we’re evaluating everybody, so Taylor [Heinicke] and Desmond [Ridder], we’re looking at those guys.”
