The 2022 NFL Draft lacked the star power we are used to seeing at the quarterback position. Only one signal-caller was taken in the first round, but there were still plenty of exciting prospects at the position. University of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder was one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in this draft class, possessing elite passing and running skills. The Atlanta Falcons managed to scoop him up in the third round of the draft, putting Ridder in an ideal spot to fight for a starting job.

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The Falcons brought in Marcus Mariota this offseason to be the starter after trading away Matt Ryan. However, Ridder could easily challenge for that starting spot if he performs well in training camp and the preseason. While Mariota could be a nice stopgap, he shouldn't be guaranteed anything.

With that being said, here are three early predictions for Desmond Ridder's rookie campaign with the Atlanta Falcons.

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Desmond Ridder rookie predictions with Falcons

Ridder barely loses the starting quarterback battle

While Mariota will enter training camp as the starter, Ridder should test that. Mariota has played one game over the past two seasons. The last time he did start, he led one of the worst offenses in the NFL until he was benched. There's no guarantee that he gives good play, or even starting-quality play.

It's entirely possible that Ridder is at least competitive with him in training camp. Given Ridder's obvious upside, Atlanta's coaching staff will likely consider putting him on the field. In the end, Mariota should beat him out by a hair and claim the starting job.

Ridder will start at least three games

The Falcons won't be anywhere near playoff contention this season. In fact, it's likely that they'll be eliminated from the postseason by Week 16 or 17. Because of that, head coach Arthur Smith should be willing to give Ridder a look in a real game. There's no point in keeping Mariota in there the whole season when there's absolutely nothing at stake. It's far smarter to allow the young guys take the field, particularly Ridder.

In-game snaps are invaluable for quarterbacks, and nothing compares to real regular-season action. Ridder will certainly play in the preseason, but the difference between meaningful games and the preseason is astronomical. If Mariota plays poorly earlier in the season, there's a good chance the Falcons just pull him and give Ridder a shot. Since there's really no drive to win games for the Falcons, player development is at a premium. That will allow Ridder to see the field more than anyone expects him to.

Ridder will put himself in contention for the 2023 starting job

Admittedly, the bar to fight for the starting quarterback job in 2023 won't be high. If Ridder shows any semblance of competence during his time starting next season, the Falcons will allow him to compete for the job in 2023.

Helping Ridder's case is Atlanta's likely draft position in 2023. The Falcons have enough talent to win themselves five or six games. That's enough to take the Falcons out of the top five picks in the 2023 draft, which means getting an elite quarterback prospect in next year's draft will be a tough task. Because of that, and the fact that they just spent pretty good draft capital on Ridder, Atlanta should be willing to give him a starting shot.