Falcons OC: 'All Options Are on the Table' at QB Ahead of 2024 NFL Draft, Free Agency

Newly hired Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is going into the job with a mindset that "all options are on the table" regarding the quarterback situation.

"Whether it's a pocket guy, whether it's a guy that can move around a little bit, we're just looking for the best guy that we can do," he told reporters Wednesday. "Certainly know the guys that are here, we're evaluating everybody, so Taylor [Heinicke] and Desmond [Ridder], we're looking at those guys."

Ridder and Heinicke are both under contract for the 2024 NFL season, but few will be surprised if another quarterback is brought in to run the offense.

Through his first two years, Ridder has thrown for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 19 appearances. His 40.1 QBR ranked 26th among 30 qualified passers in 2023.

Heinicke, meanwhile, is good in a backup role but not suited for QB1 duties. Since the start of 2021, he has averaged 205.6 passing yards per contest in his 30 games played.

Team owner Arthur Blank didn't explicitly state the Falcons will bring in an outside candidate to start under center, but he seemed to foreshadow as much when speaking with reporters last week.

There isn't a straightforward solution on the table, though.

Atlanta has the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, a point when the top QB prospects are likely to be off the board. USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels were the first three selections in Bleacher Report's newest 2024 mock.

Free agency is likely to be a crap shoot as well given what's on offer. Kirk Cousins is coming off a torn Achilles. Baker Mayfield was a Pro Bowler for the first time, so it's hard to envision the Tampa Bay Buccaneers letting him get away. None of Joshua Dobbs, Gardner Minshew or Jameis Winston is a big upgrade over what the Falcons already have.

Robinson, head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot certainly have some work ahead.