Falcons: Metrics show Desmond Ridder is the best rookie QB

The Atlanta Falcons might just have a future star on their hands as Desmond Ridder is impressing just about everyone.

Not only is he passing the eye test, but his excellent play is also passing the test on paper as Next Gen Stats has shown that Desmond Ridder has been the best rookie quarterback so far despite being a third-round pick.

Advanced metrics prove that the Atlanta Falcons made the right choice when drafting Desmond Ridder

It is safe to say that the Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks have impressed just about everyone thus far, despite it being a position that was one of the biggest question marks of the team going into training camp.

Marcus Mariota has looked like a different player and Desmond Ridder has been looking like a future superstar and the best rookie quarterback in the NFL.

Out of every rookie quarterback in the NFL through the first two weeks of preseason, Desmond Ridder is the leader in ‘expected points added’ when it comes to passing the football.

If you do not understand what ‘EPA’ is, it basically factors in situations that the quarterback is in to find the chances of the offense scoring. If the QB makes a play that increases the team’s chance to score, then obviously their EPA/DB increases.

As they explain at the bottom of the graphic it “measures how each play potentially affects the score of the game relative to the situation.”

Essentially Desmond Ridder has given the Falcons the best chance to score among all other rookie quarterbacks with at least 14 pass attempts.

And isn’t that the whole point of a quarterback? He is there to give your team the best chance at scoring each and every drive, and Desmond Ridder is doing just that for the Falcons offense, no matter who he is playing with.

Not to mention, look at his passing chart, he is completing passes everywhere on the field. He completed a pass at basically every level of the field as well as sideline to sideline.

He has shown superb mobility, excellent arm strength, pin point accuracy, and proven he has the mental part of the game figured out. He will be a superstar before you know it.