Offseason workouts ended for the Falcons, and next up is the start of training camp July 26. One key storyline that has come out of OTAs and the recent minicamp is the competition at quarterback between Marcus Mariota, acquired by the Falcons in March as a free agent, and rookie Desmond Ridder, a third-round pick in the NFL draft in April.

Mariota has been in the NFL since 2015 and worked with Falcons coach Arthur Smith when Smith was an assistant with the Titans. The past two seasons Mariota served as a backup with the Raiders. Both players had success in college. Mariota won the Heisman Trophy in 2014. Ridder took Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff last season, making the Bearcats the first Group of Five school to appear in the CFP.

Tell us which player should start for the Falcons in the season opener, Sept. 11 at home against the Saints.

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Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Kirk Cousins (right) and Michael Penix Jr. listen to instructions during minicamp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

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Apartment complex community members look at the stuffed animals, snacks and drinks that rest at the base of a basketball goal with balloons in memoriam of Ja’Nylen Greggs in Atlanta on Friday, June 20, 2025. The apartment complex community is mourning 12-year-old Greggs after he was killed in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting. (Abbey Cutrer / AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com