The Falcons are likely rolling with Matt Ryan at quarterback in 2022, but as head coach Arthur Smith reiterated on Tuesday, the team wants to keep its options open.
This doesn’t mean Atlanta is seeking a trade for Ryan, whose $48.6 million cap hit is the highest in NFL history. However, don’t be surprised if the team drafts a quarterback to develop behind the veteran signal-caller.
With the 2022 scouting combine kicking off in Indianapolis on Tuesday, the Falcons have an up-close look at this year’s quarterback class. According to team reporter Tori McElhaney, Atlanta has already interviewed two of the draft’s top QB prospects.
Matt Corral of Ole Miss said he spoke with the Falcons, citing Matt Ryan as an example of someone he wants to emulate in his NFL career.
Matt Corral said the Falcons were the second team he had a formal interview with. Said Matt Ryan is someone he would want to be like one day: 10+ years with a team, franchise QB, stats to back up an arguably Hall of Fame career. Added he’d be crazy to not want to learn from Ryan.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) March 2, 2022
It wasn’t just Corral, though, as Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett also discussed his meeting with the Falcons. Per McElhaney’s tweet, Pickett watched film with the coaching staff.
Kenny Pickett said he has interviewed with the Falcons. Noted they watched film with him and really wanted to know how he learned so they could (hypothetically) know how to teach him a new system.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) March 2, 2022
Pickett and Corral could each be first-round picks, but perhaps the most exciting prospect in this year’s class is Liberty’s Malik Willis. The dual-threat quarterback was wildly productive in 2021 and could be the first QB drafted.
Willis said he used to watch former Falcons QB Michael Vick when he was growing up.
The first name Malik Willis listed when asked who he used to watch when he was younger and still learning the game? Michael Vick. Makes sense.
— Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) March 2, 2022
Whether or not the Falcons pull the trigger on a quarterback in this draft remains to be seen, but they’re definitely doing their research.
