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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September 11, 2016 ATLANTA: Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins catches a touchdown pass past Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon for a 24-13 lead during the third quarter in an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton /ccompton@ajc.com

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State Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth, introduces himself while attending an AAPI mental health event at Norcross High School on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

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