Free Agency Roundtable: The Falcons are quietly active

"Some teams have all the cap space imaginable. They sign talented players to lucrative contracts, who may or may not elevate their franchise. Some teams focus far more on building through the draft. That may come with being forced into operating under tight financial constraints. What we do know is that signing several highly-regarded players doesn't guarantee future success."

"It's an understandable decision from a schematic and financial standpoint. Tagovailoa will get the ball out quickly. His accuracy in the short to intermediate middle areas of the field will be welcomed in an offense with two big pass-catchers. The idea of having two lefty passers does have benefits. Most importantly, it didn't cost much to bring him in."

"While there are aspects to signing him, Tagovailoa is a limited quarterback with several glaring weaknesses. He struggles to push the ball downfield. Asking him to operate out of structure usually results in negative plays. There are many times when he makes his first read instantly without seeing if the defender is reading his eyes."

The Falcons' offseason strategy exemplifies the principle that signing talented players doesn't guarantee success. New general manager Ian Cunningham chose low-cost moves to raise the roster's floor rather than pursuing expensive free agents. This approach, while potentially uninspiring for a team without playoff appearances since 2017, represents a sensible rebuild for the new regime. The signing of Tagovailoa offers schematic and financial benefits, including quick ball release and accuracy in short-to-intermediate areas, fitting an offense with strong pass-catchers. However, Tagovailoa has significant limitations, including difficulty pushing the ball downfield and struggles operating outside structure, making alternatives like Kyler Murray or Geno Smith potentially better options for competing with Penix Jr.

Read at The Falcoholic