Over the last three drafts, the Atlanta Falcons have the distinction of selecting the first tight end (Kyle Pitts in 2021), the first wide receiver (Drake London in 2022), and the first running back (Bijan Robinson in 2023). What they haven’t done is invest in a first-round quarterback. Atlanta dipped into free agency a year ago to sign QB Marcus Mariota, but he was released and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, leaving quarterback Desmond Ridder atop the depth chart.
Ridder was taken in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, making him the second quarterback selected (behind Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett) in what was considered an exceptionally weak class. After spending the first 13 games on the bench, Ridder took over for Mariota in Week 15, completing 13 of 26 passes for 97 yards in a three-point loss to the New Orleans Saints.
He’d make three more starts, ending his debut campaign with a 2-2 record as a starter, averaging 177 yards passing, 16 yards rushing, and 0.5 TDs per game — it’s worth noting both TD passes came in Week 18 against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that was locked into the fourth seed. For comparison, Mariota, who offers some of the same skills as Ridder, averaged 170.7 yards passing, 34 yards rushing, and 1.46 combined TDs per game.
