3 Reasons the Atlanta Falcons won’t trade for Lamar Jackson
By Nick Halden
2. Give Desmond Ridder a real chance to prove his potential
Arthur Smith and the Atlanta Falcons hardly set their rookie quarterback up for success by waiting until the final four games and throwing Ridder in against two of the toughest defenses the team had to face. New Orleans on the road and a tough Baltimore defense were tests that limited what a rookie quarterback should be expected to do.
Ridder went 2-2 in the final four games of the year and showed drastic improvement from game one to game four. Giving the second-year quarterback the full off-season as the starter to be ready and bringing in depth at receiver should be Atlanta’s focus.
Bring in Jacoby Brissett or Taylor Heinicke a player who can run Smith’s system and push Ridder throughout camp and the preseason. Ridder didn’t have Kyle Pitts in his starts either limiting the passing offense and taking away a lot of the big-play ability the team will have going into the 2023 season.
Ridder might not be the long-term answer but there isn’t anything on tape to say he isn’t. Give the second-year quarterback every possible tool to succeed and hope you have found a bargain instead of spending your entire future for a player who will have to win without the benefit of a complete roster.