The Atlanta Falcons parted ways with Marcus Mariota shortly after the season to no one’s surprise. His contract was always a one-year deal with a club option for a second.
Atlanta saved roughly $12-million against the salary cap by cutting Mariota, but he wasn’t out of work for long.
The Philadelphia Eagles are bringing in Mariota to be their No. 2 quarterback according to a report from Adam Schefter.
“Former Falcons’ QB Marcus Mariota reached agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year, $5 million deal worth up to $8 million, per source,” reported Schefter on Twitter. “Mariota is expected to be the Eagles’ No. 2 QB this season.”
Mariota left the Falcons under somewhat controversial circumstances. When he was benched for Desmond Ridder, he left the team to be with his wife and newborn child, but didn’t return to have knee surgery.
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Head coach Arthur Smith denied knowledge of the injury and was caught off guard by Mariota’s departure.
Mariota played well at times for the Falcons and awful at times for the Falcons. He did his job as a bridge quarterback for a cash-strapped team in 2021, but he wasn’t ever a long-term answer at quarterback for the Falcons.
The Falcons added veteran quarterback Taylor Heinicke on Tuesday morning, the second day of the free agency contact period. Most of the savings from Mariota’s contract this year went to Heinicke who is a mobile, experienced quarterback who fits well in head coach Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense.
Heinicke is expected to be Ridder’s backup heading into the season.
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