Falcons GM Terry Fontenot focused on finding a good quarterback as ‘top priority’ this offseason

Atlanta Falcons sacked Arthur Smith after last season.

Falcons GM Terry Fontenot focused on finding a good quarterback as ‘top priority’ this offseason

Terry Fontenot (via NFL.com)

The Atlanta Falcons are all set to give themselves a fresh start in the next season. After three consecutive losing seasons, the team changed its head coach and announced Raheem Morris as their new head coach. Under Morris, the team might also start with a new quarterback and the search is going on.

Terry Fontenot, the general manager (GM) of the team is presently looking for all possible options. He is leading the operations. There are a few names doing rounds in the mind of the GM, but he did not explicitly discuss that. In an interview with the NFL Network, the GM spoke about the plan but did not disclose any name.

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Fontenot told NFL Network:

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That's a top priority for us this offseason, and it's exciting. Again, not only people that have been in the building, but people outside of the building from Raheem (Morris) and (offensive coordinator) Zac (Robinson), (QBs coach) T.J. Yates, (assistant coach) Ken Zampese, (assistant QBs coach) DJ Williams -- we have a lot of really smart people in the building. We're going to spend a lot of time together, make sure we attack that the right way. We're not going to close any doors, be it trades, free agency, the draft. We will make sure we keep an open mind there and we're going to attack it and make sure we get it right.
Terry Fontenot said

The interview clearly reflected the unsure position of Desmond Ridder. Ridder had a very poor last season and often found himself on the bench due to poor form. Though coach Raheem Morris did not close the door for the QB to return, the statement by the GM makes it clear that he is not thinking of him as the starting QB.

Terry Fontenot has been very choosy about the possible deal

There are a few options that the GM might have in his hands. There are possibilities that the team might go for options like Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields. They both have a tough situation in their respective teams. The GM did not speak openly on those names but hinted that he would be very choosy about the deal.

Atlanta Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot
General Manager Terry Fontenot

He said:

You evaluate players at every point in their career. That's why it's so critical as we go through free agency and possible trades when evaluating every player you're never going to look at a report from last year or the year before, we're going to look at the evolution of the players. So, yes, to answer your question, we have to be detailed and evaluate players in every phase.
Terry Fontenot added

The Atlanta Falcons sacked Arthur Smith due to their consecutive poor seasons. The team won just 21 games and lost 30 in three years under Smith. They failed to make it to the playoffs also. This season, they will be looking forward to turning things around.

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