Sports Illustrated's Daniel Flick believes "it seems like a matter of when, not if" Falcons QB Desmond Ridder gets to start.
Coach Arthur Smith didn't rule out Ridder earning the starting job in April's post-draft press conference. The rookie hasn't done anything to change that since OTAs. The Falcons are selling Marcus Mariota, who hasn't started since 2019, as a bridge to Ridder, the third-winningest quarterback in college history. Mariota owns a 29-32 record in seven seasons, was benched his only year with Smith in Tennessee, and has never played a full season in his career. Mariota's Smith ties have him ahead of Ridder entering training camp, but if Ridder outplays Mariota this preseason, he'll have a chance to start Week 1.
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Marcus Mariota
SOURCE: Sports Illustrated
Jun 11, 2022, 11:07 AM ET
I'm confused. Which has thrown more int's?The number of INTs is not close and Marcus is way ahead
Ridder has thrown far more. SorryI'm confused. Which has thrown more int's?
The Athletic's Josh Kendall writes that "it sure sounds like third-round draft pick Desmond Ridder is going to make a competition" out of quarterback at training camp.
Arthur Smith has been impressed and complimentary of Ridder in OTAs and minicamp, and while we already knew that Ridder would likely be starting at some point, this could be a Russell Wilson-esque situation where he wins the job before anyone thought he would. "It won’t be surprising if Ridder takes over [Marcus] Mariota’s starting job at some point this season," Kendall writes.
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Marcus Mariota
SOURCE: The Athletic
Jun 21, 2022, 4:17 PM ET
Falcons signed rookie QB Desmond Ridder to a four-year, $5.36 million contract.
Ridder was one of the last 2022 rookies to come to terms with his team, just as Falcons rookies report to training camp. Ridder would have to have a tremendous camp to overtake presumed starter Marcus Mariota, who has a history with Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith, though The Athletic's Josh Kendall said in June that it "sure sounds like" Ridder is going to make Mariota compete for the Week 1 gig. Ridder will play at some point in what will likely be another lost season for the woeful Falcons. He's worth drafting late in superflex leagues this summer.
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Marcus Mariota
SOURCE: Field Yates on Twitter
Jul 19, 2022, 12:24 PM ET
Did he run as fast as the Riddler ran in Death Wish 3? LolThe Riddler?
No idea what to think here.
Falcons QB Desmond Ridder completed 14-of-21 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars.
Playing against mostly backups, Ridder saw his first start of the preseason for Atlanta. On his first, Ridder faced pressure up the middle and immediately threw an interception to Jacksonville's Daniel Thomas. He would rebound later in the first quarter when he capped a 73-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to rookie running back Tyler Allgeier in what would be his only touchdown pass of the day. Ridder now looks to take his place as Marcus Mariota's backup to start the season but will likely see the field at some point this season. He's nothing more than a dynasty stash heading into Week 1 against the Saints.
Aug 27, 2022, 6:08 PM ET
The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Mark Bradley believes “we’ll probably see a lot” of rookie QB Desmond Ridder this year.
The Falcons opened Week 1 with Marcus Mariota, who threw for 215 yards and rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown in a loss to New Orleans. Atlanta’s post-Ryan offense has looked quarterback friendly, with Mariota's 12 carries in Week 1 a glimpse at Ridder’s upside if/when they make the move to him. With no guaranteed money in 2023, Mariota’s leash is short if he’s not winning. How many losses it takes and whether the Falcons think they can flip the season with Ridder, the third-winningest quarterback in college history, is the question. A Week 2 matchup with the Rams has the Falcons (0-1) facing consecutive losses to start the year.
SOURCE: Atlanta Journal Constitution
Sep 16, 2022, 7:14 PM ET
He'll probably struggle like most rookies, but also brings some rushing floor like Mariota. Could come in handy for SF leagues.Just announced he's starting after the bye week.
Mariota with upside.He'll probably struggle like most rookies, but brings some rushing floor. Could come in handy for SF leagues,Just announced he's starting after the bye week.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Falcons will start Desmond Ridder in Week 15 against the Saints.
With the Falcons on a bye this week, Ridder will have some extra time to prepare for his first career start. Head coach Arthur Smith left open the possibility of Ridder starting after the team's Week 13 loss to the Steelers and now appears to have made the switch. Through the first 13 games of the season, quarterback Marcus Mariota has led the Falcons to a 5-8 record; throwing for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for another 84-438-4. The Falcons selected Ridder in the third round of this year's draft after he compiled over 10,000 passing yards and 80 touchdowns during his career at Cincinnati. Ridder will be on the fantasy radar as a low-end QB2 when he suits up in Week 15.
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SOURCE: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Dec 8, 2022, 10:40 AM ET
I'll reference Dane Bruglers draft guide when I forget about a player who need to find out this kind of info and he put that in his weakness category, saying he sails some throws and will hot and cold on accuracy and needs to be more precise with putting the ball in optimal area for his receivers to catch it.For those that watched him in college, how is Ridder's accuracy - seems to be the biggest knock on Mariota.
I remember his Senior Bowl practices not going well and he left if memory serves. I never did find out the true reason for that.For those that watched him in college, how is Ridder's accuracy - seems to be the biggest knock on Mariota.
I don't recall his practice participation or how he fared but he played in the game, threw 2 TD's.I remember his Senior Bowl practices not going well and he left if memory serves. I never did find out the true reason for that.For those that watched him in college, how is Ridder's accuracy - seems to be the biggest knock on Mariota.
I did actually find him on the wire in one SF league about 3 or 4 weeks ago. He is on 0% of my SF wires right now but if he is on any other SF wires this week, I would imagine he goes for close to 100% FAAB by someone. Which is why it would have been nicer a week or two ago.Desmond Ridder as a potential preemptive pickup for SF leagues.
I can't say I watched him in college but I did do a bit of a look into him this offseason, watched a fair amount of film and wrote a small piece on him. His accuracy was dramatically better his last season and I think it was 2nd or 3rd in this class despite the narrative. IIRC what I found is that he actually had more % of incompletions on short passes but was elite on stuff beyond x yards, maybe 6? One thing that really caught my attention in the film in a big way, and I wasn't looking for it or expecting it, was how good Alec Pierce and Ridder worked together. Pierce really stood out to me as particularly good and the thing was IMHO they had a chemistry that allowed for Pierce to improvise and/or for Ridder to throw him open. Pierce is an athletic specimen and is great not good at blocking out defenders at the catch point. We have seen this translate at the NFL level. As this relates to Ridder and his accuracy, what I saw on film was a QB that can run, has a winning attitude and rocket arm, and has the ability to throw WRs open. Can he read defenses and all the rest of it? IDK. Rooting for him though. And I have him stashed in a lot of spots.For those that watched him in college, how is Ridder's accuracy - seems to be the biggest knock on Mariota.
I believe that was Alec Pierce, not Ridder, sorry about that.I don't recall his practice participation or how he fared but he played in the game, threw 2 TD's.I remember his Senior Bowl practices not going well and he left if memory serves. I never did find out the true reason for that.For those that watched him in college, how is Ridder's accuracy - seems to be the biggest knock on Mariota.