The New England Patriots toyed with the prospect of moving quarterback Danny Etling to wide receiver this offseason. It appears their experiment has come to an end.
The Patriots cut Etling following a brief position change. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, he has since been claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Falcons.
Former #Patriots QB/WR Danny Etling was claimed by the #Falcons, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 14, 2019
The Patriots decided to spice things up under center by taking quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Although the backup spot to Tom Brady has been held down by the veteran Brian Hoyer, there is still plenty of speculation regarding whether or not Stidham can become the potential successor at quarterback.
The rookie's emergence essentially spurred New England to try Etling elsewhere on offense. They are certainly no strangers to converting college quarterbacks to viable pass-catchers, with their most notable product in that regard being wide receiver Julian Edelman. It is clear the Patriots felt that the former seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft had the athleticism to potentially make the switch, however, their need to add some more depth at tight end took precedent.
It remains to be seen whether or not the Falcons intend to continue the experiment heading into the 2019 NFL season. The New Orleans Saints have managed to utilize quarterback Taysom Hill's versatile skill set to add a different dynamic to their offense, playing the backup quarterback at a variety of positions It will be interesting to see if Atlanta attempts to hit their NFC South rival with the same approach.
Follow Us
Subscribe