Falcons: “Mr. Irrelevant” starting NFL game before “most pro-ready QB”

This article was originally meant to be posted before the Atlanta Falcons named Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback, but they caught us all off guard as we assumed it would be announced on Monday when Arthur Smith has his next press conference.

Even with that, this is still relevant and well worth talking about because it is something that no one, and I mean no one would have expected back in August, or even a week ago.

Atlanta Falcons’ “most pro-ready QB” getting 1st start after “Mr. Irrelevant”

I think we can all agree, the Atlanta Falcons are a little late on naming Desmond Ridder the starting quarterback. With that, we can now say 2022’s “most pro-ready quarterback” is getting his first start after the draft’s last selected player who also happens to be a quarterback.

Many people viewed Desmond Ridder back in August, and even before, as the rookie quarterback who is the best-prepared quarterback to start from day one. He has been listed as the second quarterback on the Falcons’ depth chart, up until now, and somehow he will be the sixth rookie QB to start this year. Keep in mind, this was viewed as a weak quarterback class.

Those five rookie QBs that have started are; Kenny Pickett, Skylar Thompson, Malik Willis, Bailey Zappe, and Brock Purdy (on Sunday).

The 49ers used the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to select Brock Purdy out of Iowa State. He has become the most recent player to be named “Mr. Irrelevant.” He went into the season as the 49ers’ third-string QB, listed behind the third-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and a quarterback who started in the Super Bowl for them almost three years ago.

Yet somehow, Brock Purdy will be making a start before Desmond Ridder. The sequence of events that had to play out for that to happen is crazy.

The Falcons had to give Marcus Mariota more chances than he probably should have had, and the 49ers had to have two significant injuries at the quarterback position. that is only part of it too, there is more that you could factor in.

I will say it once again, 2022’s “Mr. Irrelevant” will be starting at quarterback before the quarterback that was dubbed the most pro-ready quarterback coming out of college. The guy that was listed third on the depth chart behind two valuable players will be starting before the guy who was listed behind Marcus Mariota and his 5% completion percentage on deep throws. Enough said, this league is weird sometimes.