EXCLUSIVE: Falcons set to release Marcus Mariota to clear $12M in cap space

The Marcus Mariota experiment in Atlanta is coming to an end, per sources. Ahead of the March 15 deadline, the Falcons are expected to cut the veteran quarterback to save about $12 million in cap space.

A source who spoke exclusively to Sportskeeda said:

"Sources who are familiar with the various transactions within the NFC South report that former Falcons starter Marcus Mariota will be released before the start of the league’s new year (March 15) for a salary cap savings of $12 million."

Rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder, who the Falcons selected in the third round last year, started the final four games of the season for Atlanta.

It's apparent that Mariota's time as a member of the Falcons is over. He wasn't an expensive quarterback, but that kind of money can go to other offensive pieces to build an offense with rather than a backup quarterback.

This was likely Mariota's final chance as a starter in the NFL as he has been a backup for a few seasons now since his starting career ended with the Tennessee Titans.

What's next for Marcus Mariota and the Falcons?

For Marcus Mariota, it wasn't a stellar season. But he proved that he can still play in the NFL, just probably not as a starter.

He may get a job being the bridge quarterback for a team like the Las Vegas Raiders or the Carolina Panthers, but a backup job somewhere is likely.

For the Falcons, they now face two paths. The Desmond Ridder era can officially begin and they can build their offense around him, which is one option.

The second is to draft one of the top four rookie quarterbacks in the first round of this year's draft.

Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson are all expected to go within the top 10 of this year's draft. Could one of them fall to Atlanta at eight overall?

The Falcons could also trade up with the Chicago Bears. That would give them their choice of a quarterback for the future. They'd be able to start building around a first-rounder rather than a third-round project.