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Desmond Ridder could be starting for Atlanta Falcons in 2022

By Sayre Bedinger

Atlanta Falcons - Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws a pass in the first half of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Southern Methodist Mustangs on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.Southern Methodist Mustangs At Cincinnati Bearcats 23
Atlanta Falcons - Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws a pass in the first half of the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Southern Methodist Mustangs on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.Southern Methodist Mustangs At Cincinnati Bearcats 23 /
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The Atlanta Falcons were rumored to be interested in a QB in the 2022 NFL Draft, and they finally got one with Desmond Ridder in round three.

The Atlanta Falcons may have found themselves a potential starting quarterback in 2022 with the 74th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder, like every quarterback in this draft, was a tough one to project in terms of where he could land.

Ultimately, the league was not nearly as high on these quarterback prospects as it seemed and Ridder was the second quarterback drafted in the entire class at pick no. 74 overall.

At 74, Ridder was more than worthy of a dart throw for a team that is obviously in transition.

The Atlanta Falcons traded away their former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan and had four selections on day two of the 2022 NFL Draft to play with.

Given the amount of draft capital they were working with, it made sense for a team like Atlanta with no long-term solution at QB to take a shot on someone.

Day two dart throws have worked out for teams in recent years. Players like Russell Wilson, Derek Carr, and Jalen Hurts are all former day two picks who have had varying levels of success in their careers with Wilson’s immediate impact being the “Holy Grail”.

Teams have unearthed gems like Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins in the fourth round, and with Ridder’s overall tools, this is a selection that could quickly pay dividends.

At the very least, the Falcons should know by the end of the 2022 season whether they have a Jalen Hurts type of situation on their hands at QB or whether they will need to heavily prioritize quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Marcus Mariota was brought in to be the bridge starter for the Falcons this offseason and there’s close to a 100 percent chance he will be the week one starter for this team.

But what happens if things start to go south quickly?

What happens if Mariota, who has a lengthy injury history, gets hurt?

There’s a decent chance the Falcons are going to get an extended look at Ridder one way or another in 2022 and it would make sense for them to put him out there for at least a handful of games to show what he’s got.

Stylistically, Ridder and Mariota are at least somewhat comparable. In terms of size and athletic measurables, they might as well be two Spidermans pointing at each other.

Just like we saw with the Houston Texans and third-round pick Davis Mills last year, I think we’re going to get the opportunity to see what Desmond Ridder can do in the Atlanta Falcons’ offense.

With all due respect to Alec Pierce and the other guys Ridder was throwing the ball to at Cincinnati, having Kyle Pitts and Drake London is going to be a massive upgrade and those two guys would make any quarterback’s life easier.

The Falcons should be in full evaluation mode for 2022. While that includes getting a fair look at Mariota, Ridder is probably more important when you’re trying to project to 2023. If he can emerge in 2022, it could drastically change the Falcons’ plans in 2023.

That’s nothing to bet the farm on, but it’s part of the equation.

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