Atlanta Falcons owner voices support for Desmond Ridder

The biggest debate of the Atlanta Falcons off-season will once again be what the team should or shouldn’t do at the quarterback position. Rumblings of the team chasing Lamar Jackson or another top quarterback will continue until all of the dominos fall or Atlanta puts a reliable backup behind Desmond Ridder.

Arthur Blank who rarely inserts himself into the conversation trusting the front office he has in place recently voiced support for Desmond Ridder as the starter. Pointing out his leadership abilities and the quick development the team has watched since Ridder was drafted almost a year ago.

Arthur’s comments should carry a lot of weight considering how reliable the Atlanta owner has been when it comes to the direction the team is looking. While Smith and Fontenot have both been misleading at times with their comments or outlook on a player Blank is consistent.

Voicing his support for Ridder is a hint in the direction Atlanta is leaning and should choose this off-season. Keeping Ridder as the starter is the best path forward to allow Fontenot to continue the current path of building a complete team and giving the Falcons a chance to end the playoff drought.

Atlanta doesn’t need a star quarterback to make the playoffs in the NFC South when they could spend the same assets to build a complete roster and have just as great of a chance without mortgaging their future. Even if Atlanta doesn’t believe in Ridder they have the draft picks and cap space to add competition in free agency or the draft without spending all of their cap space or top draft picks for one position. Ridder should be Atlanta’s starting quarterback in 2023 and be given a chance to show he is the answer for the franchise.