The #Falcons have identified #Saints VP/Assistant GM for Pro Personnel Terry Fontenot as the favorite to be their next GM, sources say. They won’t do a deal until New Orleans is out of the playoffs, but signs point to him being the choice.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2021
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Atlanta Falcons are closing in on their next general manager, with New Orleans Saints vice president of pro personnel Terry Fontenot emerging as the favorite for their vacancy. But there’s a catch: Fontenot cannot sign with a new team until the Saints’ season is over, either by playoffs elimination or winning the Super Bowl.
Losing Fontenot would be a big blow to the front office. He’s done a great job of evaluating prospects at the pro ranks, both as free agents from other NFL teams and standouts in the CFL, as well as startup leagues like the XFL and AAF. He’s earned the assistant general manager title after years of hard work in New Orleans, and he’s now on the verge of running his own team.
Additionally, because Fontenot is a minority candidate being hired to a general manager position, the Saints would receive third-round compensatory draft picks in 2021 and 2022. That’s reliant on Atlanta sealing the deal, of course.
It’s just a shame he’ll likely be doing so across the division. But the Falcons haven’t been able to beat the Saints, so the only strategy left to them is trying to hire up-and-comers from New Orleans..
