Assuming the Atlanta Falcons don’t go on to win the Super Bowl this season, it seems more likely than not that the team will look to acquire a quarterback in the 2024 NFL offseason.
Desmond Ridder was benched for veteran Taylor Heinicke in Week 16 and Atlanta played its best offensive game of the season. Heinicke probably isn’t the long-term answer, though.
So will the Falcons look to draft a QB like LSU’s Jayden Daniels, or trade for someone like Bears QB Justin Fields? Both options could be on the table for Atlanta, but another name was floated on Wednesday.
Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was benched for the final two games and he could be available this offseason. CBS Sports listed the Falcons as the most logical landing spot for Wilson:
Atlanta hasn’t fielded a sustainable QB since Matt Ryan’s unceremonious exit, so regardless of Arthur Smith’s fate as head coach, they’ll be in the market. The Bears’ Justin Fields registers as a much more appealing possibility, considering his youth and upside, but Wilson could be the best alternative if they can’t move up to secure a top 2024 prospect.
Again, he’s done some of his best work when captaining a run-first attack, and that’s exactly what Smith has been trying to cook up for the Falcons. From Wilson’s perspective, Atlanta also plays in perhaps the most winnable division in the NFL. — Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports
The Falcons could potentially afford to swing a trade for Wilson, but would they want to waste another year on a short-term solution? The upside is there as Wilson was arguably the most consistent QB in the NFL — besides Tom Brady — for nearly a decade.
However, Wilson just hasn’t looked right in Denver over the past two seasons. Perhaps it’s due to the Broncos’ offensive line, or just a lack of chemistry with his teammates, but Wilson has not been the difference-maker that Denver thought it was getting from Seattle.
If the Falcons were to draft a quarterback this offseason, it would make sense to acquire the veteran QB as a stop-gap/mentor. Ultimately, it comes down to the asking price. Wilson is better than any of Atlanta’s current quarterbacks, but exactly how much better remains a mystery.