BREAKING: Falcons' QB1 has been cut
Marcus Mariota's tenure with the Falcons has come to an end after only one year. The Falcons proclaimed this morning that Mariota has been released. This news should not come as a shock as it will save the Falcons $12 million on their salary cap, and Mariota had an underwhelming performance last season.
Mariota, who was the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, is just 29 years old and could still have a promising career in the NFL, despite his previous letdowns. He may fit well as a backup for a team in need of a veteran. Mariota had signed a two-year agreement with the Falcons last season. According to OverTheCap.com, the Falcons will save around $12 million in salary cap space with Mariota no longer on the roster. After accounting for Mariota's $2.5 million dead money hit, the move would result in the Falcons having a total cap space of approximately $65 million. The new league year commences on March 15.
In March of 2022, after the Falcons traded Matt Ryan to Indianapolis, the organization struck a deal with Mariota. Mariota and Falcons head coach Arthur Smith had worked together in Tennessee after Mariota was drafted by the Titans with the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Smith was Mariota's offensive coordinator in his final year with the Titans. Following his departure, Mariota spent two seasons as Derek Carr's backup in Las Vegas before the Falcons signed him to a two-year deal last year. For Mariota, his signing with Atlanta and his reunion with Smith provided an opportunity to demonstrate to himself and the league that he was a starting-caliber quarterback in the NFL. For the Falcons, Mariota served as a bridge from the Matt Ryan era in Atlanta to whatever came next.
After Mariota joined Atlanta, the Falcons picked Desmond Ridder with the 74th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. During training camp and the preseason, Mariota and Ridder took all the quarterback snaps in Atlanta, with the Falcons opting not to keep another quarterback on the preseason roster that could be classified as a "camp arm." Feleipe Franks spent most of his time at tight end, while Mariota and Ridder worked with the first, second, and third-team offenses. Mariota was named the Falcons' starting quarterback before the start of the 2022 season, a position he held for the next 13 games.
Mariota posted a 5-8 record as the Falcons' starting quarterback. He threw for over 2,000 yards, with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. However, his impact was perhaps most significant in the run game, as he carried the ball 85 times for 438 rushing yards (his highest career total). With Mariota, Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier, and Caleb Huntley, the Falcons' running game was a force to be reckoned with throughout the 2022 season.
| POLL | ||
28 FEVRIER | 31 ANSWERS BREAKING: Falcons' QB1 has been cut Will Marcus Mariota get another chance at a starting position? | ||
| Yes | 7 | 22.6 % |
| No | 24 | 77.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
