FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Since buying and selling quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts on March 21, 2022, the Atlanta Falcons had been looking for a successor.
The Falcons pursued Deshaun Watson, who ended up in Cleveland with a completely assured $230 million contract. The Falcons then signed Marcus Mariota, who was benched after 13 video games attributable to poor play. Atlanta drafted Desmond Ridder within the third spherical of the 2022 draft — a 12 months when the quarterback prospects have been noticeably skinny.
Of quarterbacks drafted that 12 months, Ridder, Kenny Pickett and Sam Howell have all been traded halfway by their rookie offers and are more likely to be backups with their new groups. Malik Willis and Matt Corral by no means gained full-time beginning jobs. Bailey Zappe began six video games for the New England final 12 months, however he is in an unsure scenario with the Patriots. The most effective of the bunch has been the final choose of the draft, the San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy.
Final 12 months, the Falcons signed Taylor Heinicke to again up Ridder — and be a fail-safe if it did not go nicely. Neither Ridder nor Heinicke had the success Atlanta wanted or needed, with workforce proprietor Arthur Clean calling the quarterback play “poor.”
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It led Atlanta to fireside former coach Arthur Smith, and the Falcons entered the 2024 offseason in the identical spot as two years in the past: in determined want of a quarterback.
Ex-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins grew to become out there in free company, and the Falcons believed Cousins could be the reply. Final week, when Cousins drove from Michigan to Georgia, he grew to become what the Falcons hope would be the answer.
Signing Cousins will speed up the altering of Atlanta’s offense. New coordinator Zac Robinson was the go sport coordinator and quarterbacks coach the previous two seasons for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams, who over the previous three seasons have run 11 personnel — three receivers, a working again and a good finish — greater than any workforce within the league at 89.6%. The Falcons underneath Smith ran 11 personnel the least within the league in that span, 26.9%, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Data.
In video games Cousins began in Minnesota in 2022 and 2023 underneath Kevin O’Connell, who additionally comes from the McVay tree, the Vikings ran 11 personnel 70.3% of the time — maybe one other indicator of what Atlanta will run.
Whereas Robinson hasn’t mentioned what his offense will appear like, McVay’s fashion is all he is labored underneath as an NFL coach. And Robinson mentioned in February he “realized a ton” from McVay, from syncing up run-and-pass schemes to packaging performs, and he plans to implement it in Atlanta.
“I imagine there will likely be [similarities],” Cousins mentioned. “I believe time will inform. I believe each coordinator places their spin on issues, so what was related begins to evolve and alter. However I am going to be capable to be right here as we do this. So I am excited to only get to work and begin making an attempt to get this playbook digested.
“However I might prefer to assume a number of the language and a number of the stuff that may be laborious early on will likely be one thing that I plug and play somewhat quicker.”
Below O’Connell, Cousins accomplished 67.1% of his passes for six,878 yards, 47 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. Quarterback wins aren’t at all times telling, however the Vikings have been 17-8 in video games Cousins began the previous two seasons earlier than he tore his proper Achilles in October.
Falcons quarterbacks for the reason that begin of 2022? They accomplished 61.8% of their passes for six,223 yards, 34 touchdowns and 26 interceptions — and a 14-20 document.
In signing Cousins, Atlanta instantly grew to become a workforce with a extra correct quarterback — and one acquainted working with high-level gamers. In Minnesota, Cousins threw to receiver Justin Jefferson and tight finish T.J. Hockenson and handed the ball off to Dalvin Cook dinner.
In Atlanta, he’ll throw to receiver Drake London and tight finish Kyle Pitts and hand off to working backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier — a quartet of gamers on rookie offers with high-level capabilities. Cousins additionally helped recruit ex-Chicago Bears receiver Darnell Mooney to Atlanta — calling him when he was advised the Falcons have been near signing him.
“I see playmakers on the surface,” Cousins mentioned in his introductory information convention. “I see an offensive line that is gifted, that is performed collectively, that is well-coached.”
The final time the Falcons might really feel this comfy at quarterback getting into a season, with no large skill-level questions and understanding the kind of participant they have been getting — was in 2021 with Ryan.
Ryan was over 65% completions all however one season of his closing decade in Atlanta. He had not less than 20 touchdowns per season over that span. He was sturdy. He knew how you can lead and was who the gamers turned to in crucial conditions.
Cousins, with 5 Professional Bowls and a completion proportion over 65% in all however certainly one of his NFL seasons since changing into a full-time starter in 2015, can present what Ryan used to. It is what the Falcons are looking for.