The
off-season is yet to officially begin and already the team has been a speculated landing spot for a number of quarterbacks. The most interesting clearly is Lamar Jackson who would perfectly fit Arthur Smith’s system and make Atlanta a contender in the NFC. As exciting as this potential fit might be it is extremely unlikely considering both Lamar’s value to Baltimore and the potential cost of a trade.
More achievable options that have been speculated as fits for the Falcons are Jimmy G. and Ryan Tannehill. Both of these veteran quarterbacks would have made sense for the Falcons last season. However, it is hard to see either as a legitimate option unless they are willing to take a backup role.
Tannehill and Arthur Smith will be understandably connected this off-season but the reasons he isn’t an option for Smith’s Falcons couldn’t be more obvious for a team looking to turn the corner.
1. Arthur Smith already had a chance with a former QB
We’ve seen this movie once already and there is zero want for a sequel in Atlanta. Marcus Mariota was brought in after Atlanta’s failed attempts to make a move at the position with Arthur Smith and Mariota hoping the second time around would be more successful.
The second go with Smith and Mariota ended exactly as the first with the veteran quarterback underwhelming and being benched before the end of the season. Smith had his chance to bring back a former quarterback and turn the narrative around. Mariota fits Smith’s system far better than Tannehill who is coming off of an injury-shortened season a year after a meltdown in the playoffs.
Those speculating that this will be Ryan Tannehill’s landing spot seem to be connecting Smith and his former quarterback and not paying attention. Atlanta and Tannehill make sense at first glance but the more you consider the veteran quarterback the less sense it makes unless Tannehill is willing to come in on a team-friendly deal and compete with Desmond Ridder.
2. There is zero reason to believe Tannehill is an upgrade over Desmond Ridder
The sample size for Desmond Ridder is extremely small with only four games in an injured offense to consider. However, despite the small sample size, it is clear Ridder is every bit as talented as Tannehill and has the better ability as a runner at this point in their career. Ridder’s arm and accuracy are both equivalent or better and albeit in only four games but the rookie protected the football at an impressive level.
Atlanta needs a quarterback who can stabilize this offense and not make the costly mistakes that Mariota did consistently in the 2022 season. Ridder played well enough in all four games for the Falcons to have a chance to win and with an off-season as QB1 Ridder can easily surpass Tannehill or at the very least play at his level on a much cheaper contract.
Bringing in a player to compete with Ridder and force the second-year quarterback to win the job is the right move.
3. Tannehill isn’t taking the Atlanta Falcons anywhere in the playoffs
Whether it is with the Dolphins or the Titans Ryan Tannehill has always been just good enough. Doing enough to keep his starting job and give his team a chance though in the biggest games and moments, they will always fall short. Outside of their impressive upset win against Tom Brady three years ago what playoff success or truly impressive moment does Tannehill have?
In Ryan’s time as a starter, the Titans have made the playoffs every year he has been healthy winning only in their first season together. Tannehill failed to pass for 100 yards as the Titans beat the Patriots and Ravens before falling to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
For three out of the last four years, the Titans have clearly had a good playoff team. A team that has been unable to take the next step due to the limitations of their quarterback. Why would the Falcons want the veteran in Atlanta? Making the playoffs with a complete roster is what the Titans have done and is the blueprint Atlanta should be trying to follow. They are far better off going into a potential playoff game with Desmond Ridder under center as an unknown than Tannehill who come playoff time isn’t helping anyone but the opposing defense.