Falcons follow up Matt Ryan trade by signing their new QB

The Atlanta Falcons have traded Matt Ryan for a third-round pick, which is ridiculous, but that is another story. With the departure of the franchise leader in virtually all passing stats, it left a huge hole at the quarterback position.

Well, it seems as if the Falcons have found their new starting quarterback as they have signed the former second-overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

Falcons elect to sign Marcus Mariota to a two-year deal

It looks as if Marcus Mariota will take the torch from Matt Ryan as the Falcons starting quarterback.

While you can argue that Mariota is a big step down from Matt Ryan, that is a different story for a different time.

Mariota comes to the Falcons after being with the Las Vegas Raiders for two seasons in which he was used as the primary backup to Derrick Carr as well as being put on the field at times as a change-of-pace quarterback.

Of course, he was also a member of the Tennessee Titans while Arthur Smith was coaching there, so it is obvious that Smith saw something in Mariota that likes and he will now attempt to get what the Titans thought they were getting when they drafted him second overall.

This seems like a similar situation to when Arthur Smith acquired Ryan Tannehill as his new quarterback. Perhaps Smith thinks he can turn around Mariota’s career like he did with Tannehill. That would certainly be the best-case scenario for the Falcons.

Mariota will also bring an added dimension to the Falcons offense that they lacked with Matt Ryan as Marcus is super talented as a runner and can rip off a big play with his legs at any point during a game.

The downside is that as it looks right now, he will not have many weapons to work with, hopefully, the front office can surround him with the players he needs to be successful by the time the season starts.

Needless to say, all Falcons fans are hoping this is a rehash of Ryan Tannehill in Tennesse when Arthur Smith turned his career around.