Falcons put in a waiver claim on QB Nathan Rourke

It’s an interesting attempt, one that may clue us in to what Atlanta’s thinking about quarterback beyond Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix.

Did you imagine the Atlanta Falcons were done with their quarterback room after signing Kirk Cousins to a megadeal and drafting Michael Penix eighth overall, especially with Taylor Heinicke already on the roster and undrafted free agent John Paddock also joining the roster?

You fool! You absolute rube.

Adam Schefter is clearly couching this in to put an elbow in your ribs—those crazy Falcons, eh? eh?—but this is a legitimately interesting would-be move for the team, and one they narrowly missed out on getting done thanks to the Giants being higher in the waiver claim order. Rourke was a hugely productive college and CFL passer with a live arm and useful mobility, and despite a short NFL stint and multiple years north of the border, he’s still just 25 years old. If you like what you saw from him as a passer, he’s a speculative addition as a potential long-term backup at best and a seasoned summer camp quarterback at worst.

The Falcons, it’s worth remembering, sank those resources into Cousins and Penix, which ensures both will be on the roster in 2024. Taylor Heinicke is not a lock to remain on the team, however, and Paddock is little more than a potential practice squad option if he has a great summer. If you’re not 100% sure your third quarterback is on the roster, or if you’re simply looking to upgrade on the guy you have kicking around as a potential practice squad addition with roster spots available, why not look into someone like Rourke? This fits into Terry Fontenot’s stated ethos that you can never stop looking around for roster improvements, even if any more investments in the quarterback season may feel a little ludicrous given the offseason we’ve gone through.

It’s a moot point with Rourke off to the Giants, but this is yet another indication that Heinicke is not a roster lock and the Falcons will keep shopping for another quarterback to round out their depth chart.