Atlanta Falcons Make Mistake Extending Backup Quarterback Matt Schaub

The Atlanta Falcons have extended aging backup quarterback Matt Schaub on a two-year deal. It is a surprising move considering both age and his ability to contribute at this point.

Matt Schaub has long been around the league and spent the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.   At 37-years old Matt Schaub will now rejoin the Falcons to assumably be the backup plan for the next two seasons if Matt Ryan were to be injured.

With a questionable offensive line, Atlanta should plan a better emergency starter than Matt Schaub. Schaub is an aging veteran who in his prime was a low-level starter without pocket awareness.

Add in nearly a decade of aging and Schaub shouldn’t be on the Falcons roster, as anything other than a coach.

It has been well covered that Schaub reads the field well and assists Matt Ryan on the sideline. This is an underrated skill and something that Schaub brings to the team. A skill he could bring to the team without suiting up every Sunday.

With a myriad of free agent and draft pick options at the position Atlanta spending money on Schaub is a mistake. Signing a player who isn’t capable of playing at a replacement level anymore is a mistake.

Instead, the Falcons should have focused on adding a mobile quarterback or a quarterback with some type of upside. Instead, they opted to sign Schaub.

For the Falcons this isn’t detrimental as long as Ryan stays healthy and everything goes to plan. However, if Ryan were to be injured Schaub starting would be a disaster that ensured a better draft pick for Atlanta.

Atlanta is expected to continue and retain their own players this off-season shopping in the bargain aisles of free agency avoiding making any splashy moves. More to come as a long NFL off-season continues to get underway.