Grading each of the Atlanta Falcons 2022 draft picks
DeAngelo Malone, OLB, Western Kentucky (Rd. 3, Pk. 82)
Stats: 15 games | 216 defensive snaps | 29 tackles | 4 tackles for loss | 1 sack | 2 QB hits
This was the pick that the Atlanta Falcons got in return for Matt Ryan, so DeAngelo Malone will forever be known for basically being traded for one of the best players in Falcons’ history.
Being a rookie pass rusher is extremely hard. No one had the expectations to see Malone record ten-plus sacks this past year; the expectations were more in line with what he did do, play limited snaps as a pass rusher.
One sack isn’t good but he was the third-round pick of a team that makes getting to the quarterback look harder than reading this with your eyes closed.
Grade: C
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati (Rd. 3, Pk. 74)
Stats: 4 games | 2-2 record | 73/115 (63.5%) | 708 yds | 2 TDs | 0 interceptions
We all would have loved to see Desmond Ridder play in more games. He sat on the bench for way too many games and could have potentially changed the outcome of the season, but we will focus on what he did do during his four starts.
Ridder’s first start in New Orleans was mostly rough, his second start in Baltimore was much better, and then he improved significantly in his final two games at home. Progress is what we all wanted to see and what we ended up getting.
He may have had two ugly fumbles but he didn’t throw any interceptions, had a respectable completion percentage, and was even able to lead his team to two wins. It may have taken him a few weeks to throw his first touchdown but much of that wasn’t his fault. Overall, we should be happy with what we saw in the limited number of games.