The Atlanta Falcons hold the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Projections for what Falcons GM Terry Fontenot will do with that pick have been all over the positional map, from offensive tackle to cornerback and nearly everywhere in between.
One possibility that hasn’t been projected often is for the Falcons to select a quarterback at No. 8. Yet the team is wrapping up its 30 prospect visits by meeting with Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud. He’s the third prominent quarterback to visit with the Falcons recently, along with Florida’s Anthony Richardson and Will Levis from Kentucky.
Atlanta drafted Desmond Ridder in the third round a year ago and added Taylor Heinicke in the offseason as a free agent. Ridder started the Falcons’ final four games in 2022 and did not play poorly, but also didn’t cement himself as the team’s long-term starter.
It’s important to not read too much into which prospects a team visits with, but it doe raise an eyebrow for the Falcons to be kicking the tires on the top quarterbacks. Whether it’s interest on their own behalf or just trying to drum up trade potential, Fontenot and the Falcons are adding more layers of uncertainty within the top 10.