Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith once again made the decision to bench quarterback Desmond Ridder after last week’s ugly loss to the Carolina Panthers.
It’s the second time this season that Ridder has been benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke. It also comes after an ugly 9-7 loss to a previously one-win Panthers team in which Ridder completed 12-of-20 passes for a mere 152 yards. It’s the continuation of what has been a disastrous sophomore season for the former third-round pick out of Cincinnati.
- Desmond Ridder stats (2023): 63.3% completion, 2,528 yards, 10 TD, 10 INT
Ridder, 24, was given the keys to the offense ahead of his second season. He has done nothing to prove he’s a starter-caliber quarterback in today’s NFL.
Atlanta still has business to take care of this season. Even at 6-8, the team is just one game out in both the NFC Playoff picture and the NFC South race. For his part, Smith should be on the hot seat given Atlanta’s struggles.
Even then, there is going to be a decision made in Atlanta this coming offseason. Will the team look to select a quarterback of the future in the 2024 NFL Draft? Perhaps, general manager Terry Fontenot (if he’s still on the job) looks the veteran route. Below, we check in on three Falcons quarterback options to replace Ridder after the 2023 campaign.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft
Atlanta Falcons find quarterback in first round of NFL Draft
Atlanta is currently slated to select No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Depending on how the final three games go, this could be a bit lower or higher. Regardless, it stands to reason that USC’s Caleb Williams and Drake Maye from North Carolina — the draft’s consensus top quarterbacks — won’t be available.
This puts Atlanta in a bit of a precarious position. Reigning Heisman winner Jayden Daniels just declared for the draft. He could potentially be had depending on where the Falcons are drafting. But is he ready to be a starter at the NFL level? It’s an open question.
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix is a bit more pro-ready. However, utilizing a potential top-10 pick on the Heisman finalist might be a reach. Given where the Falcons stand right now in the NFL Draft order, this seems to be an unlikely avenue. Of course, pulling a blockbuster trade up the board could be in the cards.
Related: Atlanta Falcons standing in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings
Falcons add stopgap option at quarterback, keep Desmond Ridder
If Taylor Heinicke was a legitimate option for next season, Atlanta wouldn’t have had seen him start just two games leading up to NFL Week 16. He’s a journeyman. He has not proven capable of being a starter over the course of a full regular season.
The scenario in play here suggests that Atlanta doesn’t simply cut ties with Ridder after two seasons. Instead, it finds a better stopgap option to be QB1 with Ridder as the backup.
The good news? There are possibilities that could present themselves during NFL free agency. Kirk Cousins, Jacoby Brissett, Baker Mayfield, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston and Gardner Minshew are all slated to become free agents. An argument can be made that each one would be an upgrade atop the Falcons’ QB room in 2024.
Atlanta Falcons pull off blockbuster trade for young quarterback
Given the dynamics in play in the 2024 NFL Draft (Atlanta’s draft positioning) and a free agent market that’s not filled with long-term starters, we could envision the Falcons going the trade route. That is to say, acquiring a young quarterback in a blockbuster trade.
Rumors continue to persist out of Chicago that the Bears will go quarterback at the top of the draft while trading Justin Fields. Sure, he’s struggled through nearly three seasons. But Fields’ upside is much higher than the iteration of Ridder we’ve seen this season. Atlanta might be able to acquire the still-young signal caller on the cheap.
- Justin Fields stats (2023): 61% completion, 1,976 passing yards, 488 rushing yards, 16 total TD, 8 INT
Mac Jones of the New England Patriots is yet another option. He has been benched multiple times this season and is currently riding the pine behind Bailey Zappe. Perhaps, a change of scenery would do the former first-round pick well. Zach Wilson could also be an option in a buy-low move. Heck, Jake Browning of the Cincinnati Bengals has proven that he could very well be starter material in replacing an injured Joe Burrow.