Atlanta Falcons recently issued the following announcement.
Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Titans, is the Falcons starting quarterback -- right now.
Is he a bridge quarterback filling the position until the Next One is in the building? Or can he resurrect a once-promising career, which, if he did, would resurrect a franchise that's fallen on tough times and had a challenging offseason?
"There is nothing guaranteed," Mariota told me this weekend. "This is just an opportunity. I feel like I have never been handed anything and I'm excited for this."
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"If it's not me, it's okay too," Mariota said. "I've been in this situation before. It's a 'control what I can control,' mindset. I have no ego. I can be an ear and listen. Teams are going to do what they're going to do. If they do draft someone, I'll give as much advice and knowledge as I can. If not, I'm ready to roll."
I've known Mariota for years, mainly through our dealings with the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and Polynesian Bowl (he grew up in Hawaii and is of Samoan and German descent). He is an incredible human being. He is mild mannered and not outspoken, but don't confuse that with him being non-competitive.
In watching him back up Derek Carr with the Raiders the past two seasons, he's as intense as I've ever seen him. He proved routinely reliable when he got his weekly packages to execute. He honestly is focused on putting the "bridge quarterback" conversation to rest with his leadership and play.
"If things work out, hopefully I'll be here for the next few years," Mariota said.
Mariota rejoins Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, whom he worked with in Tennessee before leaving to join the Raiders after the 2019 season. That relationship, knowledge of scheme, and personal and professional growth by both is why Mariota said he finds this THE ideal situation to try and get his career back on track.
In terms of the depth chart, Mariota and Feleipe Franks are the only quarterbacks on the roster. That creates the dynamic of whether you want to draft another quarterback – Franks made the roster as an undrafted free agent last year – and have two developmental quarterbacks behind Mariota.
This doesn't seem like the succession plan Falcons owner Arthur Blank talked about for years, knowing former NFL MVP quarterback Matt Ryan's playing window was closing.
That window closed for the Falcons in late March, when Atlanta traded Ryan to the Colts for a third-round pick. That left a colossal void, which now is filled by Mariota.
The last time the Falcons had to adjust after a seemingly unexpected quarterback development came in 2007. That's when Joey Harrington was signed as a free agent to replace Michael Vick, who was suspended and eventually imprisoned for dogfighting.
This is a vastly different circumstance, of course, but this subject is about finding a quarterback after an unforeseen situation developed -- the trade of Ryan came after failing to acquire Texans quarterback DeShaun Watson seemingly led to where things stand.
There are similarities. Harrington was selected No. 3 by Detroit in 2002. Mariota was taken No. 2 overall by Tennessee in 2015. Both had/have every physical trait you'd want in your quarterback. It's simply a side note, but Harrington and Mariota also attended Oregon.
Original source can be found here.
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