Ranking the Atlanta Falcons’ opposing QBs in 2024

The NFL continues to tease fans about when their schedule will be released this season. While exciting, it’s a little exhausting to see that same commercial that ends with a disappointing “Drops in May,” especially when we’re already six days into May.

The Atlanta Falcons continue to make headlines for the quarterback they selected in the NFL Draft, alongside the one they paid over $100 million guaranteed for. So, for a little fun, in this exercise, we take a second to look at the quarterbacks the Falcons will face in 2024.

The Falcons can play up to three rookie quarterbacks this season and four in the playoffs last season.

14) Denver Broncos – Bo Nix/Jarrett Stidham/Zach Wilson

The worst we could see is the quarterback room of Bo Nix, Jarett Stidham and Zach Wilson, depending on how training camp goes. Listen, Sean Payton is going to do a lot of work to get this quarterback room off the ground. There’s not much to be optimistic about in this room, maybe Nix proves to be good at running Payton’s offense, but it will take longer than this season.

13) New York Giants – Daniel Jones/Drew Lock

The Giants did this to themselves. Being fooled by the one-year prodigy that was Daniel Jones and having to call on Drew Lock doesn’t seem like a fun process. Now, could Lock come out and put this thing together with Malik Nabers on his side? It’s possible, but highly unlikely.

12) Minnesota Vikings – Sam Darnold/JJ McCarthy

With Kevin O’Connell in charge and the weapons they have in Minnesota, this room has the most room to maneuver. But here on May 6, a QB room led by Sam Darnold doesn’t move the needle much for me, even though I’m high on what McCarthy could possibly be in purple.

11) Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels/Marcus Mariota

Of the three rookie quarterbacks, Jayden Daniels is the most likely to play on day one, but I still had to put Marcus Mariota in, just in case they have different plans in DC. As much as I want to put Daniels and his playing ability higher. , it would be disrespectful to the veterans in front of him.

10) Las Vegas Raiders – Gardner Minshew/Aidan O’Connell

Aidan O’Connell was a great quarterback for the Raiders last season. At the end of Anthony Richardson’s season, Gardner Minshew nearly led the Indianapolis Colts to a playoff berth. This quarterback room may be better than what it may look like on paper, but not by much.

9) Pittsburgh Steelers – Russell Wilson/Justin Fields

Granted, I’m a little more bullish on this room than most and that’s not based on fit with an Arthur Smith system, but on whether Smith will implement a solid running game to complement them. Whether it’s Russell Wilson or Justin Fields who is the primary beneficiary, they both have their own talents that they can add to go along with a power play.

8) Carolina Panthers – Bryce Young

Speaking of being optimistic, yes, Bryce Young will be better than anything last season. Number one, because there’s nowhere to go except after last year’s debacle, but also because there’s a reason Young was the number one quarterback pick this season last. He had some flashes towards the end of the season where we saw his playmaking ability, and I’m expecting a lot more this season.

7) New Orleans Saints – Derek Carr

While he may not be worth the investment the Saints made in him, Carr is still an excellent quarterback. Will it be enough to get New Orleans where it wants to go? Absolutely not. But he’ll do enough to keep them interesting and if you’re the Saints, that’s all you’re looking for at this point in the team-building process, right?

6) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Baker Mayfield

We all owe Baker Mayfield an apology for doubting him as much as we did before last season started. The connection he had with Mike Evans was worth the price of admission and it should be fun to see what the next episode of Mayfield-to-Evans will be like.

5) Seattle Seahawks – Geno Smith

Geno Smith put an AED on his career and revived his career after years on the bench. Now, with his arsenal of weapons in Seattle, he has become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFC.

4) Dallas Cowboys – Dak Prescott

Cowboys fans just vomited in their mouths seeing Dak Prescott below Jalen Hurts in any ranking, but both are extremely talented quarterbacks. Prescott has been a problem for the defense in his own right and if the Cowboys don’t recover, he will have a strong market in free agency next season.

3) Philadelphia Eagles – Jalen hurts

Hurts is an extremely talented quarterback and I hope he doesn’t make me regret placing him over Prescott here after… whatever that was last season. But I still believe in the Eagles and what they’re doing, and that includes Hurts playing at an extremely high level.

2) Los Angeles Chargers – Justin Herbert

Justin Herbert is one of the few quarterbacks in the league who can turn the dial to 11 and completely take control of a game. Herbert is one of the five best quarterbacks in the league and any debate against that will not be tolerated here.

1) Kansas City Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes

There’s not much to say. You know the name, you know the game, just be ready when they’re on the schedule.