Marcus Mariota Released by Falcons After 1 Season with ATL; Creates $12M in Cap Space

The Atlanta Falcons released quarterback Marcus Mariota on Tuesday, saving $12 million from their 2023 cap number.

Field Yates of ESPN noted the Falcons are now slated to have around $65 million in cap space as free agency approaches.

Mariota spent the 2022 season as Atlanta's primary starter, throwing for 2,219 yards and 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions while adding 438 yards and four touchdowns as a runner. The Falcons went 5-8 with Mariota as a starter before benching him for rookie Desmond Ridder down the stretch.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, Mariota previously served as a starter for the Tennessee Titans before the team moved on to Ryan Tannehill. While Tennessee had a winning record in three seasons Mariota served as the team's primary starter, he never developed into a consistently effective passer.

After leaving the Titans, Mariota spent two years as a backup behind Derek Carr in Las Vegas. He said he thought his stint in Atlanta would be his last chance to prove he could be an NFL starter.

"When I was going into free agency [last year], I kind of understood that if I got a chance to play again, it was really going to be probably my last shot," Mariota told reporters. "Most guys don't even really get a second shot."

Mariota will likely be returning to a backup role in his next stop, wherever that may be. While he's clearly not ever going to be an upper-echelon NFL starter, the Oregon product is a quality backup who shouldn't have much trouble finding work in 2023.