The next few weeks are very important for the Atlanta Falcons. Heading into and during training camp, all eyes will be on quarterback Desmond Ridder. Head coach Arthur Smith and the franchise have committed to him as the starter in 2023 as they believe the 2022 third-round pick will take that next step in his development.
It is certainly a risky proposition as Ridder was only okay during his four starts at the end of his rookie season. The Falcons went 2-2 in those games, but he averaged under 200 yards passing per game.
The team’s decision-makers are probably under the belief that a full offseason to prepare as the starter will do Ridder some good. The team added another big-time weapon around him this offseason, selecting Texas running back Bijan Robinson with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
That gives Ridder three top-10 picks to work with along with Kyle Pitts and Drake London. The homegrown talent of that draft pedigree has never been put together in the 53 years since the AFL-NFL merger, giving Ridder a potentially elite group of skill position players to grow with.
But, what happens if Ridder doesn’t showcase the development during training camp? If the Falcons start getting some cold feet, they could turn to Taylor Heinicke, who the Falcons signed in free agency.
Heinicke was a gamer during his time with the Washington Commanders but failed to elevate the team. He is a strong option for spot starts, but as a full-time starter, his limitations come to the surface.
If worse comes to worst, why not reunite Smith with a familiar quarterback, as suggested by Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report? If Ridder struggled, Ryan Tannehill could be an option for the Falcons.
What could a trade between Atlanta and the Tennessee Titans look like? The Falcons would offer a third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in exchange for the veteran quarterback and a 2024 fourth-round pick.
With Malik Willis and Will Levis on the roster, Tannehill likely isn’t long for Tennessee. There is also a new regime in place led by Ran Carthon who hasn’t been afraid to purge the roster. Moving up one round in the 2024 NFL Draft is a solid haul for a player that doesn’t have a long-term home with the team.
Tannehill played very well when Smith was his offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020. He is someone that knows the system and could step into the lineup right away and produce. Only one season removed from leading the Titans to a No. 1 seed in the AFC, he would likely present an upgrade on the team’s current quarterback situation.
