Finding a new quarterback remains the Atlanta Falcons' top priority this offseason, but doing so is much easier said than done.
Quarterback is the single most-important position in football, so naturally, there's a ton to consider when finding one to lead a franchise. There's obviously his performance and play style on the field, but a team also has to consider his chemistry with teammates, coaches and the franchise's culture as a whole.
Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, Falcons coach Raheem Morris spoke on the importance of finding a quarterback that can make the city of Atlanta proud.
"You want to go get the best fit for your people. You want to go get the best fit for your coaches. You want to go get the best fit for our city. You want to do all of those things," Morris told CBS Sports. "There's nothing ruled out..
"And I know you're gonna jump all over the best fit for the city thing. I mean, I can see the excitement. People are gonna read into those words and whatever. However they do those things, and you can't stop that. There's people that are from Atlanta, there's people from around Atlanta. You can name the mileage and how close people are, but you've got to do what's best and what's right for your team at the right time, and we won't rule out anything."
When Morris says "best fit for the city" one may assume he means someone from Atlanta. The logical next step in that train of thought is Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, who comes from the area and has been a popular trade target for the Falcons this offseason.
Before getting carried away, though, it's important to note that Morris said nothing about their quarterback being from the city of Atlanta, which would drastically limit the Falcons' options anyway. Rather, it seems most important for Morris and co. to find someone who can win while being someone the team and fanbase can rally around.
There's no shortage of options for the Falcons this offseason, but it's clear that the team has an idea of what traits its next quarterback should possess.
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