Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons still trying to bring QBs to Atlanta after signing Cousins, drafting Penix

Originally posted on SportsTalkATL | By Alex Lord | Last updated 5/8/24

The Falcons are just a piece of meat to the NFL.

Following a couple of weeks of dominating headlines, Atlanta is being dangled out there again. This time by Adam Schefter, who reports that the Falcons tried to acquire quarterback Nathan Rourke to their 90-man roster, who was ultimately awarded to the Giants via waivers.

The Atlanta Falcons — who signed QB Kirk Cousins during free agency and then selected QB Michael Penix during the draft — put in a waiver claim this week for former Patriots and Jaguars QB Nathan Rourke, who was awarded to the New York Giants, per source. pic.twitter.com/vyi7hAz9w0

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2024

Most recently, Rourke was with the Jaguars and the Patriots, but this is more about the Falcons once again.

Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris have been questioned about their use of resources when it comes to quarterbacks, so this is just low-hanging fruit. The reality is that it makes sense.

The Falcons have four quarterbacks under contract — Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix, Taylor Heinicke, and John Paddock.

Cousins is the shoo-in starter, but the backup spot seems to be up for grabs between Penix and Heinicke. Depending on how that position battle plays out, it could force the Falcons to keep Heinicke and use Penix as the emergency QB3 on game days or cut Heinicke and just use Penix as the backup.

Still, if the UDFA out of Illinois doesn’t prove worth keeping on the practice squad and the Falcons part ways with Heinicke, it could make sense to bring in a guy like Rourke to stash on the practice squad or use as an emergency QB3.

This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.

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