The Atlanta Falcons drafted a quarterback at the wrong time

The Atlanta Falcons have known for the last three years they needed a rebuild and a reset for a roster that was unable to recover from their infamous Super Bowl appearance. Despite knowing they weren’t headed in the right direction Atlanta stuck with Matt Ryan and the majority of their veterans keeping the core intact despite the less than impressive results.

Fast forward and Atlanta have finally drafted a quarterback in Desmond Ridder after parting ways with Matt Ryan. This points to Atlanta’s poor decision-making and inability to read the room and realize what position they have put themselves in.

This isn’t to say Ridder won’t pan out, simply that he has far more concerns than quarterbacks over the past three seasons. All three years Atlanta was in a position to move up or select a quarterback to sit behind Matt Ryan.

Atlanta waited to draft a quarterback until a great mentor in Ryan was gone and in a year that the quarterback class was notably underwhelming. There is a reason the most important position on the field was selected only once in the first round. This quarterback class was weak and didn’t measure up to the last three seasons.

In retrospect 2020 was the first season the Falcons should have considered taking a quarterback. Three years removed from being a real contender Atlanta was in a position to move up to take a quarterback like Justin Herbert or they could have selected Jalen Hurts or project quarterbacks Jordan Love or Jacob Eason to sit and learn behind Ryan.

Fast forward a season and the Falcons selected a star pass-catcher in Kyle Pitts 4th overall. In what appears to have been a great quarterback class the Falcons passed on Justin Fields and Mac Jones instead drafting a position that relies on a franchise quarterback they no longer have.

Atlanta’s long history of mismanagement and poor timing hadn’t touched the quarterback position due to the stability Matt Ryan brought to the Falcons for well over a decade. Now, however, with Ryan gone Atlanta fans are forced to look back and realize how many opportunities Atlanta had to set themselves up for success at the position. Instead, the team opted to bring in Matt Schaub, and Josh Rosen refusing to put a quarterback behind Ryan. A move the team may soon regret is Ridder is unable to develop and become the starter this team had the chance to add for three straight seasons.