The Denver Broncos are entering the NFL offseason with a major need at the quarterback position. Russell Wilson appears almost guaranteed to be finding a new home, which could lead the Broncos to exploring the NFL Draft or trade market. One name to keep an eye on could be Atlanta Falcons young quarterback Desmond Ridder.
Over the last couple of years, the Falcons have grown frustrated with Ridder. However, he has been playing under a head coach in former Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith who clearly did not believe in him.
Throughout his first two NFL season, Ridder ended up playing in 19 games. He completed 64 percent of his pass attempts for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Ridder also recorded 257 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Sean Payton is known for working with and developing quarterbacks. This would be a great undertaking for him. If Ridder reached his full potential, he would be a long-term franchise quarterback option in Denver.
All of that being said, let’s dive in and take a look at how the Broncos could pull off a trade with the Falcons for Desmond Ridder.
Denver Broncos Receive: Desmond Ridder
Atlanta Falcons Receive: 2024 Third-Round Pick
If the Falcons do decide to move on from Ridder this offseason, they aren’t going to get a huge return for him. Due to how they have handled him and his development over the last two years, they have ruined most of his trade value.
At 24 years of age, this is exactly the kind of trade that the Broncos should be pursuing. They could get a young quarterback who has shown flashes of big potential for a relatively cheap price. He would immediately come in as their starter under a much more competent head coach.
Atlanta could decide to ride it out for one more year with Ridder. They fired Smith and brought in Raheem Morris to be their new head coach. Perhaps the change of coaching staff would help propel Ridder forward.
Either way, this is certainly one option that these two teams could explore. The Falcons may want a little more, but the Broncos would not have to break the bank to acquire Ridder. It’s something to keep an eye on as the offseason gets underway.
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