FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — I was all in favor of the Falcons drafting quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round. He won a lot of games as a four-year starter at Cincinnati. Ridder’s main weakness, passing accuracy, can be improved. His plus athletic ability at the position is valuable. Ridder is a high-floor guy with room to grow.
I also think it’s best for Ridder and the Falcons if he doesn’t start as a rookie. The Falcons don’t have much talent on the roster. College prospects who were much more polished than Ridder struggled in similar circumstances. The best outcome for the Falcons is for Marcus Mariota to play well in 2022 while Ridder learns how to be a pro.
That’s the big-picture view. Right now, Ridder is getting into the details of playing QB in the NFL. The process started at rookie minicamp last week. It continues this week with voluntary OTAs. They “aren’t real practices,” coach Arthur Smith said Thursday, but they are part of the “teaching and development stage.”
