One can argue that having a good head coach and a good quarterback are the two most important things when building an NFL team. Unfortunately, the Atlanta Falcons have neither which means they are in for a busy offseason.
Finding a head coach and aggressively pursuing a quarterback who is a perfect fit should be the main priority. With so much talent elsewhere, these two additions could make the Falcons contenders next season.
Here are some pairings that would be perfect for the Dirty Birds.
1. Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy & Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh
*Winner of the most obvious pairing right here*
Clearly, the duo that just led Michigan to a National Championship will be a great pair. They know each other and they know how to win.
With Jim Harbaugh you get the extra benefit of having a head coach who has led an NFL team to success in the past. Harbaugh knows what it takes to win in the NFL and he knows how to elevate the play of his quarterback.
If the Falcons somehow land the Michigan head coach then J.J. McCarthy will instantly become a target of theirs in April's draft.
2. Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders & Colorado HC Deion Sanders
Okay, I promise I am done with the obvious ties.
If any team is going to hire Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, it is the Falcons. And, quite honestly, it isn't that bad of an idea. A head coach is brought in to coach his players and command the locker room. While Colorado's season dropped off a cliff, you cannot deny the love that his players have for him.
As for the quarterback, it has already been made clear that Shedeur Sanders is sticking around for another year at Colorado. However, one would have to assume that would change if Deion took an NFL job.
Would it be the most traditional route to turning an organization around? No, but it sure would be fun.
3. UNC QB Drake Maye & Texans OC Bobby Slowik
What Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has done this season is just remarkable. He took a team that had the number-two pick and a struggling offense and turned them into an offensive juggernaut.
No doubt Slowik has been a key piece in the turnaround, but so has rookie QB C.J. Stroud who was widely considered the second-best quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft. The same can be said for North Carolina's QB Drake Maye.
Drake Maye could have a similar season to Stroud under Bobby Slowik. He has the arm that Slowik needs for all the tight-window passing. Maye can be a pocket passer with the ability to make things happen with his legs, much like C.J. Stroud.
Drake Maye should pray that he gets drafted by Bobby Slowik.
4. Oregon QB Bo Nix & Bills OC Joe Brady
When you think about the Buffalo Bills' offense you immediately think of chaos. They love to get Josh Allen on the move and making plays. Since Joe Brady took over as the Bills offensive coordinator in the middle of the season, we have seen a lot more of that chaos.
As for the elderly college QB Bo Nix, he has a similar style of play. He wants to be on the move and find ways to make SportsCenter's top ten.
While Josh Allen and Bo Nix are completely different on the outside, they prefer to play the position in a similar style. Joe Brady could keep the Bo Nix train rolling into the NFL.
5. Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. & Lions OC Ben Johnson
While he didn't have a great National Championship, there is something magical about watching Michael Penix Jr. throw the football. Of course, lefties always throw the ball prettier but it is more than that. Penix throws the ball like it is a dart.
Meanwhile, there is an offensive in Detroit that has taken off with Ben Johnson. Johnson has been able to get the most out of Jared Goff and has made them a nearly unstoppable offense.
Goff isn't someone who is going to rush for 100 yards, and the same can be said about Michael Penix—to a lesser extent.
That cannon that Penix has would certainly be successful in Ben Johnson's offense.
6. USC QB Caleb Williams & Commanders OC Eric Bieniemy
Caleb Williams is widely regarded as the best quarterback in the draft class and is often referred to as a 'generational-type player.' He will likely be the top pick in the draft, which is currently held by the Chicago Bears who are reportedly open for business.
If Terry Fontenot (or whoever) decides that they want to pursue Williams then they should hire Eric Bieniemy right this second.
Bieniemy made his name known as Patrick Mahomes' offensive coordinator, a player whom Caleb Williams has said he is and whom he has been compared to. What better newly-hired head coach would there be for Williams to kick his NFL career off with?
These moves would be monumental and would garner praise from everyone.
7. LSU QB Jayden Daniels & Ravens OC Todd Monken
If you were wondering what my favorite pairing would be, this is it. This is a perfect marriage between quarterback and head coach.
Jayden Daniels is a heck of a talent and a quarterback who can be as productive on the ground as he can be through the air. Does that skillset sound familiar? It should because former UGA offensive coordinator Todd Monken has been guiding a quarterback named Lamar Jackson who can be described that way.
This is no way to say that Daniels and Jackson are the same players, they aren't. They play the game a bit differently but Todd Monken has shown that he can tailor an offense to a quarterback's strengths.
This should be the route that Arthur Blank, Rich McKay, and Terry Fontenot go. It would immediately turn this franchise into a contender.
8. Broncos QB Russell Wilson & Buccaneers OC Dave Canales
For those who are proponents of hiring Dave Canales, you should hope for Russell Wilson as well.
Dave Canales got his start in the NFL as the wide receivers coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. He would then go on to have two stints as the quarterbacks coach and two years as the passing game coordinator with Seattle.
This was also the time when Russell Wilson was one of the best in the league. The two know each other better than anyone and if a team decides to hire Canales then you should fully expect them to also sign Wilson once the Broncos release him.
Is this the most ideal pairing for where the Falcons are at right now? No, but it is a route to consider if you think you can compete right away.