All early indications point to Desmond Ridder being the future quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. Arthur Smith has said the rookie signal caller is “lightyears” ahead of where rookie quarterbacks usually are during OTAs, Ridder has said all the right things so far, but he has yet to do anything during a live game.
Not only that, but Desmond Ridder will likely not play enough this season to determine how he will pan out in the NFL, and that is the main reason why Jon Chuckery said he would still draft Bryce Young or CJ Stroud if he was the Atlanta Falcons with a top three pick in next year’s draft.
Even though Desmond Ridder is “lightyears” ahead of any rookie quarterback according to Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith, there is still a lot to learn as a rookie quarterback, and that is why it seems like Marcus Mariota will be the week one starter for the Atlanta Falcons, and at least be the starter for the first part of the season. Jon believes Desmond Ridder’s playing time won’t be substantial enough to determine if he is the future quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons.
Jon says “Desmond Ridder is not going to play enough to write the final book on is he or is he not a long term winning answer at your quarterback position.” Chuck also goes on to say “We’re not going to know in one year. That’s not a matter of being unfair or anything to Desmond Ridder, it's reality. You’re not going to define a guy's career by playing a handful of games in his first season. It’s not going to tell you what the whole picture looks like over the long term, and if I'm trying to get my franchise back on track you go draft what you think is your franchise quarterback.”
Now, obviously if Desmond Ridder looks like a Hall of Famer on the field and shocks the world in his first few games like Patrick Mahomes did then that is different, or if the Falcons don’t have a top three pick and are picking seventh or eighth then Jon realizes that is “off the table”.
However, if Desmond Ridder plays well or just alright and the Falcons have a top three pick Jon says he’s still picking quarterback because he says “I’m not going to pass up what are supposed to be the elite of the elite at that position, you can’t.”
Now, under Arthur Smith for the second year with a slightly better roster, even though the schedule is tougher, Dean Pees is installing 100% of the defense, the Atlanta Falcons may win six or seven games again this year and not end up with a top three pick, so this won’t matter, but either way it goes Jon says “Desmond Ridder’s book is not going to be finished and written this year. You’re not going to have a complete picture good, bad, or otherwise on Desmond Ridder.”
With an incomplete picture on Desmond Ridder and a top three pick in the 2023 NFL Draft the Atlanta Falcons will have to draft Bryce Young or CJ Stroud because they can’t afford not to.