After not taking a quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday, the Falcons agreed to terms with free agent quarterback A.J. McCarron to a one-year contract Friday.

McCarron, who played at Alabama, was drafted by the Bengals in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2014 draft.

McCarron, who’s 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, has been a backup in the NFL. He has played in 17 games and has made four starts.

He has completed 109 of 174 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,173 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also played with the Raiders and Texans.

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Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr. tackles Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (center) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. (Brynn Anderson/AP)

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

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