Two of the more intriguing Week 1 matchups in the NFL involve quarterbacks facing their old teams, including Russell Wilson's visit to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+).

Nine teams will have a new starter under center this season, and how those QBs fit in will be one of the most compelling storylines of the season.

Wilson spent his first 10 years in Seattle before being traded to the Denver Broncos on March 8 in one of the biggest deals in NFL history.

Baker Mayfield played only four seasons in Cleveland, but they were eventful. He led the Browns to their first playoff victory in 26 years in 2020, before falling out of favor in Cleveland last season. Mayfield was traded on July 6 to the Panthers, who host the Browns on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).

There was some drama added to Mayfield's reunion game when it was reported how badly he wanted to beat the Browns.

Not all of the QB change was based on someone switching teams. Trey Lance's ascension to San Francisco 49ers starter was announced when it appeared Jimmy Garoppolo would be traded, but Garoppolo ended up staying in San Francisco, and he will be Lance's backup.

NFL Nation reporters break down the floors and ceilings of the quarterbacks in new roles, or new cities, and ESPN NFL fantasy analyst Mike Clay provides a statistical projection for the season.

 

Atlanta Falcons

The QB switch: Marcus Mariota replaces Matt Ryan

What prompted the change: The Falcons were pursuing Deshaun Watson, who was facing 22 lawsuits alleging sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. During that process, Atlanta allowed Ryan to pursue potential trade partners, and Ryan felt comfortable with the Colts. When Houston traded Watson to Cleveland, the Falcons then dealt Ryan to Indianapolis. The same day, the Falcons signed Mariota, who played under Atlanta coach Arthur Smith when Smith was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. In this year's draft, the team also selected rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round.

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What's Mariota's ceiling: The best-case scenario for the Falcons is Mariota rediscovers what made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft and the quarterback who threw for 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2016. If Atlanta can have an improved version of what Mariota was with the Titans, he could have a chance to be the long-term starter, giving the Falcons more flexibility in the 2023 draft.

Mariota's floor: Mariota's accuracy was an issue in Tennessee — he's a career 62.8% passer — and he was eventually benched in 2019 in favor of Ryan Tannehill. If Mariota has the same precision issues in Atlanta, he could lose his job to Ridder. The floor for the Falcons: Neither Mariota nor Ridder looks like the medium- or long-term quarterback answer, and that sends the team into the 2023 offseason desperate for a quarterback. — Michael Rothstein

Clay's projection for Mariota: 2,123 yards, 10 TDs, 7 INTs