Don’t totally count out Falcons drafting C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young

Prior to the draft, there was much debate about whether the Atlanta Falcons should punt taking a quarterback this year, in favor of taking one next year when the quarterback class is considered to be much better.

The Falcons, however, decided to take a passer this year as they drafted Desmond Ridder in the third round, but that does not totally rule out the possibility of Atlanta ending up with one of the top quarterbacks in next year’s draft class.

The Falcons still need to find the absolute best quarterback they can possibly get

When there is a position that is as important as the quarterback, you must find the best possible option to fill the position, meaning the Falcons could see one of next year’s quarterbacks as their best option—even over Desmond Ridder.

Arthur Smith recently commented about why the Falcons did not wait another year to take a quarterback in an interview with Jeff Schultz of The Athletic:

"“This is a waste of your time and my time if you want to talk about ’23, It’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard — that a team would try to not win football games. If you don’t, there’s going to be consequences. OK, you’re at the top of the draft — I got it. But you’re in a very transactional phase of the National Football League right now. Trades in the draft. Trades for quarterbacks. It’s a different landscape than when Jimmy Johnson took over the Dallas Cowboys in 1989. It was pre-free agency. The famous Herschel Walker trade. They blew it up and went 1-15, and … it was a long rebuild. That is not the same NFL as today. Back then, people would’ve given their first born before they gave their picks away. People are still going off old narratives, and it’s comical.”"

Well, you can tell he was just waiting to be asked that question, but let’s just say that the Falcons have one of the league’s worst records this season—which is certainly possible—and they end up with one of the top picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. It would simply be stupid if they did not at least consider taking a guy like Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, or any other top prospect, they must find the player who gives them the best chance to win.

Even if that means taking a quarterback in two straight years, and it is not like Atlanta took Ridder in the first round, he was a third-round pick, and at worst he could become a solid backup option to whomever the Falcons drafted.

It is something to think about, and while it is unlikely as so many things would need to line up, you still cannot count out the possibility.