2024 Free agency and draft thread

[Xeliou66]

You can have him.

6 years. A .500 record outside of 2022, which was a clear fluke getting done at home by Daniel Jones. One playoff win and 180 million invested into a giant waste of time.

If you want to drop 90 million into a 36 year old QB with an Achilles injury, by all means, knock yourself out.

That being said, I think the Falcons trade for Fields and the Vikings end up holding the big bag of money out for 8 win Kirk yet again.

"You like Cash?!"

I’m not saying that Cousins is a great pickup, but he’s the best option for the Falcons this year. Fields is a bust and a glorified RB, he won’t improve the Falcons offense at all. The Falcons need to be able to pass the ball, and Cousins has thrown for 4000 yards 7 times in his career, he’s not a top tier QB but he’s not a bust either, he’ll provide stable play at the position. The Falcons just need to stop their losing streak - we’ve had 6 straight years with a losing record - and I think getting Cousins will end that streak and give the Falcons a good shot at the playoffs. It’s not ideal but it’s the best option for the Falcons.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I’m not saying that Cousins is a great pickup, but he’s the best option for the Falcons this year. Fields is a bust and a glorified RB, he won’t improve the Falcons offense at all. The Falcons need to be able to pass the ball, and Cousins has thrown for 4000 yards 7 times in his career, he’s not a top tier QB but he’s not a bust either, he’ll provide stable play at the position. The Falcons just need to stop their losing streak - we’ve had 6 straight years with a losing record - and I think getting Cousins will end that streak and give the Falcons a good shot at the playoffs. It’s not ideal but it’s the best option for the Falcons.

The team is young. It makes sense to draft a QB that is close to the same timeline as these others and they can grow together. A QB on a rookie contract is key so you can build up the rest of the team especially the OL. I think Jayden would be a great fit. Yes there is more risk but Kirk isn’t a long-term answer.
Ok it comes down to this…

Do you think Cousins can win Atlanta a SB? If the answer is no then they should draft a QB. We know Cousins ceiling and with that salary they aren’t building up the rest of the team as much. A rookie is an unknown but there is also a chance if they make the right pick that player could be a superstar in time. Then they are set for the next 10 years.

My pick is Daniels

 

[Xeliou66]

The team is young. It makes sense to draft a QB that is close to the same timeline as these others and they can grow together. A QB on a rookie contract is key so you can build up the rest of the team especially the OL. I think Jayden would be a great fit. Yes there is more risk but Kirk isn’t a long-term answer.
Ok it comes down to this…

Do you think Cousins can win Atlanta a SB? If the answer is no then they should draft a QB. We know Cousins ceiling and with that salary they aren’t building up the rest of the team as much. A rookie is an unknown but there is alsk a chance if they make the right pick that player could be a superstar in time. Then they are set for the next 10 years.

My pick is Daniels

Jayden Daniels will be gone by the time the Falcons pick. The Bears, Commanders and Pats aren’t going to trade, so Williams, Maye and Daniels will be off the board by the time the Falcons pick. If one of them were available, I would definitely say take them without hesitation, but they won’t be (I would love to be wrong but I doubt it). I sure as hell don’t want JJ McCarthy, that dude has bust written all over him. Bo Nix or Michael Penix might be worth a chance but they’ll likely still be available in the second round and might not be ready to start right away.
No, I don‘t think Cousins can win the Super Bowl, but he can get the Falcons to the playoffs and that’s what‘s important right now, the Falcons need to stop having losing seasons. With Cousins, I think we are the favorite to win the division. He’s the best option, I don’t want glorified RB Fields or overrated game manager McCarthy, might as well just keep Ridder and tank rather than do that.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Jayden Daniels will be gone by the time the Falcons pick. The Bears, Commanders and Pats aren’t going to trade, so Williams, Maye and Daniels will be off the board by the time the Falcons pick. If one of them were available, I would definitely say take them without hesitation, but they won’t be (I would love to be wrong but I doubt it). I sure as hell don’t want JJ McCarthy, that dude has bust written all over him. Bo Nix or Michael Penix might be worth a chance but they’ll likely still be available in the second round and might not be ready to start right away.
No, I don‘t think Cousins can win the Super Bowl, but he can get the Falcons to the playoffs and that’s what‘s important right now, the Falcons need to stop having losing seasons. With Cousins, I think we are the favorite to win the division. He’s the best option, I don’t want glorified RB Fields or overrated game manager McCarthy, might as well just keep Ridder and tank rather than do that.

I think it would be beneficial for the Falcons to trade up.
You give up future picks but you also save over $40M/year in cap space over that time you would sign Cousins. A lot or money to improve the rest of the team.
To be clear, I would only draft the top 3 QB’s over signing Kirk. I am with you, the other QB’s have too many question marks. Also agree on not signing Fields. Is an upgrade but not enough to make a difference.

 

[Xeliou66]

I think it would be beneficial for the Falcons to trade up.
You give up future picks but you also save over $40M in cap space over that time you would sign Cousins. A lot or money to improve the rest of the team.
To be clear, I would only draft the top 3 QB’s over signing Kirk. I am with you, the other QB’s have too many question marks. Also agree on not signing Fields. Is an upgrade but not enough to make a difference.

I just don’t see the Bears, Commanders or Pats being willing to trade, they all need QBs. I would be thrilled if the Falcons traded into the top 3 and got one of the ”big 3” QBs in this draft, but I don’t see it happening. So signing Cousins is the next best option - as you say Fields wouldn’t make much of a difference, he’s better than Ridder but that‘s not saying much, and the other QBs in the draft behind Williams, Daniels and Maye just have too many question marks and wouldn’t be ready to start IMO.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I just don’t see the Bears, Commanders or Pats being willing to trade, they all need QBs. I would be thrilled if the Falcons traded into the top 3 and got one of the ”big 3” QBs in this draft, but I don’t see it happening. So signing Cousins is the next best option - as you say Fields wouldn’t make much of a difference, he’s better than Ridder but that‘s not saying much, and the other QBs in the draft behind Williams, Daniels and Maye just have too many question marks and wouldn’t be ready to start IMO.

If the Patriots want JJ maybe they think they can grab him at 9 and acquire picks. We don’t know teams draft boards so at this point the top QB’s are only the top QB’s to the experts. So never say never. It does feel like the Falcons would sign Kirk but I am not sure that is best for them if they aren’t SB contenders in the next couple years. If you sign Kirk the goal is a SB, not just contenders imo

 

[Xeliou66]

If the Patriots want JJ maybe they think they can grab him at 9 and acquire picks. We don’t know teams draft boards so at this point the top QB’s are only the top QB’s to the experts. So never say never. It does feel like the Falcons would sign Kirk but I am not sure that is best for them if they aren’t SB contenders in the next couple years. If you sign Kirk the goal is a SB, not just contenders imo

I just don’t see the Bears/Commanders/Pats trading down or taking anyone other than Williams/Daniels/Maye. I hope I’m wrong and the Falcons trade up, but I don’t see it happening. So signing Cousins is the best move. It won’t make us a Super Bowl caliber team IMO but it will make us a playoff caliber team and what we need to do now is stop our streak of losing seasons and taste the playoffs again.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I just don’t see the Bears/Commanders/Pats trading down or taking anyone other than Williams/Daniels/Maye. I hope I’m wrong and the Falcons trade up, but I don’t see it happening. So signing Cousins is the best move. It won’t make us a Super Bowl caliber team IMO but it will make us a playoff caliber team and what we need to do now is stop our streak of losing seasons and taste the playoffs again.

Playing in a weak division it won’t take much of an upgrade from Ridder to win that division. The Falcons have a very ceiling and I don’t think Kirk takes their ceiling to the max. Hitting on Maye or Jayden might do that. Now like we have talked about, that means trading up. I would love to see them trade up. My buddy in Atlanta has season tickets and I go there sometimes to watch them play. I would love to see them with a young, talented QB with a bright future.

If Fields stays in Chicago or WAS or NE trades for Fields that opens up a trade up for Atlanta so lets hope Fields stays in Chicago or goes to one of those teams.

 

[Xeliou66]

Playing in a weak division it won’t take much of an upgrade from Ridder to win that division. The Falcons have a very ceiling and I don’t think Kirk takes their ceiling to the max. Hitting on Maye or Jayden might do that. Now like we have talked about, that means trading up. I would love to see them trade up. My buddy in Atlanta has season tickets and I go there sometimes to watch them play. I would love to see them with a young, talented QB with a bright future.

If Fields stays in Chicago or WAS or NE trades for Fields that opens up a trade up for Atlanta so lets hope Fields stays in Chicago or goes to one of those teams.

I’m a lifelong Falcons fan, watch all of their games and have ever since I was a kid growing up in north Georgia, and I would love to see the Falcons get a strong franchise QB and be Super Bowl contenders again. Super Bowl 51 still stings, and it’s a goddamn shame Matt Ryan never won a Super Bowl - he was a great franchise QB for us and really kind of under-appreciated by the Falcons fanbase.
I would love it if the Falcons traded up and got one of the “big 3“ QBs this year but that happening is a long shit. So I see Cousins as the best option if they can’t trade up.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I’m a lifelong Falcons fan, watch all of their games and have ever since I was a kid growing up in north Georgia, and I would love to see the Falcons get a strong franchise QB and be Super Bowl contenders again. Super Bowl 51 still stings, and it’s a goddamn shame Matt Ryan never won a Super Bowl - he was a great franchise QB for us and really kind of under-appreciated by the Falcons fanbase.
I would love it if the Falcons traded up and got one of the “big 3“ QBs this year but that happening is a long shit. So I see Cousins as the best option if they can’t trade up.

I know that Falcons loss kills the fans. They had an amazing shot at the SB and Ryan was playing at a MVP level

 

[Battlelyon]

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Everyone is claiming to draft a QB over signing Cousins.
One. Not as simple as everyone claims.
Doesnt work out most times. Falcons have most pieces not named QB right now. So makes sense to pick up Cousins. Who I believe is the top FA QB available.
then there is
Two. Why not just do both. Sign Cousins to another three year deal & draft a QB this year or next (or both)
Going into Cousins 3rd year. you should know if you got something in your draft picks or not.

 

[PDay8810]

if nothing else...Cousins made out like a bandit

 

[Clayton]

Everyone is claiming to draft a QB over signing Cousins.
One. Not as simple as everyone claims.
Doesnt work out most times. Falcons have most pieces not named QB right now. So makes sense to pick up Cousins. Who I believe is the top FA QB available.
then there is
Two. Why not just do both. Sign Cousins to another three year deal & draft a QB this year or next (or both)

If signing Cousins means you also still invest in a QB for the future then thats an option.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

I’m not saying that Cousins is a great pickup, but he’s the best option for the Falcons this year. Fields is a bust and a glorified RB, he won’t improve the Falcons offense at all. The Falcons need to be able to pass the ball, and Cousins has thrown for 4000 yards 7 times in his career, he’s not a top tier QB but he’s not a bust either, he’ll provide stable play at the position. The Falcons just need to stop their losing streak - we’ve had 6 straight years with a losing record - and I think getting Cousins will end that streak and give the Falcons a good shot at the playoffs. It’s not ideal but it’s the best option for the Falcons.

With the talent that the Falcons have on offense, he will look very good. Probably will win you a division or two if he stays healthy. But don't count on much more than that come playoff time.

 

[VikingFan2k2]

if nothing else...Cousins made out like a bandit

He always does.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Everyone is claiming to draft a QB over signing Cousins.
One. Not as simple as everyone claims.
Doesnt work out most times. Falcons have most pieces not named QB right now. So makes sense to pick up Cousins. Who I believe is the top FA QB available.
then there is
Two. Why not just do both. Sign Cousins to another three year deal & draft a QB this year or next (or both)
Going into Cousins 3rd year. you should know if you got something in your draft picks or not.

Well you pay $50m/year for an older QB that can get his team over the hump and it is not a long-term answer. Not ideal.

If it is a 1-2 year deal they can go the sign and draft option but then you are drafting top 10 when you have more needs.

They are in a tough spot

 

[HaroldSeattle]

 

[DJ Fieri]

Cousins was playing great last year. He also got hurt last year and is only 5 months younger than Matt Stafford. Falcons have a young team and Cousins will not be around for the young players to be veterans. There is a chance this ends up like Carr to the Saints.

NO had a horrible OC and it was Carr's first season there learning a new offense.

 

[DJ Fieri]

I’m not saying that Cousins is a great pickup, but he’s the best option for the Falcons this year. Fields is a bust and a glorified RB, he won’t improve the Falcons offense at all. The Falcons need to be able to pass the ball, and Cousins has thrown for 4000 yards 7 times in his career, he’s not a top tier QB but he’s not a bust either, he’ll provide stable play at the position. The Falcons just need to stop their losing streak - we’ve had 6 straight years with a losing record - and I think getting Cousins will end that streak and give the Falcons a good shot at the playoffs. It’s not ideal but it’s the best option for the Falcons.

KC is like Brady when you consider the Falcons started Ridder and Heinicke at QB last season.