Desmond Ridder Articles - Page 4

Desmond Ridder is entering his second season with the Atlanta Falcons and his first as the full-time starting quarterback, but he knows that he still has a lot to learn. Ridder admitted his first year with the Falcons was one with a lot of twists and turns. “This time last year, my head was spinning,” Ridder […]

As the Atlanta Falcons prepare for the 2023 season, they are looking for growth and a possible spot in this year’s playoffs. There are a few questions that keep getting asked concerning the Falcons growth, however, and they all have to do with their 24-year-old starting quarterback, Desmond Ridder. Is Desmond Ridder ready? Is Desmond […]

As Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young receives a majority of the press in the new look NFC South, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is preparing to take the reins of the offense this year. Speaking on the brewing rivalry against his former college opponent, Ridder gave an honest admission on the No. 1 overall pick […]

The Atlanta Falcons might not be ready to compete for a Super Bowl, but they have an intriguing group, especially on the offensive side of the ball and quarterback Desmond Ridder knows it. While Ridder has limited experience as he heads into his first season as QB1, the organization has added numerous pieces around him. […]

When the Atlanta Falcons selected Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, they were hoping to add their future QB1 to the roster. While Ridder spent much of the season behind veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, he did show potential when called upon. In Week 14, the Falcons chose to […]

The Atlanta Falcons recently announced they won’t be pursuing a potential Lamar Jackson trade this offseason, even after he recently told the Baltimore Ravens he wants out. A big reason for the organization deciding to pass on one of the best dual-threat signal-callers in the NFL is their current QB1, Desmond Ridder. On Friday, head […]

The Atlanta Falcons have had a busy offseason and have been tied to a potential trade for Lamar Jackson. However, the Falcons have repeatedly stated they are out on a Lamar Jackson blockbuster. That shouldn’t be surprising, with Desmond Ridder in line to start, and Taylor Heinicke brought in as an expensive backup. Head coach […]

Following a successful campaign with the Washington Commanders, quarterback Taylor Heinicke now finds himself with the Atlanta Falcons. At the start of free agency, Heinicke opted to join the Falcons on a two-year deal worth up to $20 million. But with his arrival to Atlanta, he does not plan on challenging second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder […]

The Atlanta Falcons are one of several teams that find themselves at a quarterback crossroads. They can continue to develop Desmond Ridder, who showed promise in just a four-game sample size last season. Or they can opt for the blockbuster and try to acquire Lamar Jackson. Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Ridder but would […]

Desmond Ridder’s first start in the NFL went as expected for the Atlanta Falcons. The rookie quarterback struggled rather heavily in his first few drives, as he looked a bit jittery at times. When he settled down, though, he had a rather mediocre, if not below-average performance: 13 out of 26 passes completed for just […]

The Atlanta Falcons extended their losing streak to three games after they fell to division rivals the New Orleans Saints, 21-18, on the road in Week 15 of the 2022 NFL season. The Falcons tried to rally in the fourth quarter, but they fell short in the end. They slid to last place in the […]

The Atlanta Falcons failed to keep in step with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South after the former lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13. The Falcons will try to recover some ground and bounce back in Week 15 as they play the New Orleans Saints on the road. […]

Just a week ago, the Atlanta Falcons decided to bench starting QB Marcus Mariota in favor of rookie Desmond Ridder. And now, Mariota is heading to the IR with a knee injury. Since the team had a bye in Week 14, the first-year signal-caller has had more time than usual to prepare for his NFL […]

The 5-8 Atlanta Falcons, led by head coach Arthur Smith, made a huge decision with the playoffs still within plausible reach. Instead of rolling with Marcus Mariota, their starting quarterback since Week 1, they decided to hand the keys to the offense to rookie Desmond Ridder, who hasn’t even touched the grass in the NFL. […]

It’s always difficult to accept when things aren’t going your way. This is especially the case for professional athletes, who hold themselves to ridiculously high standards. Such is the case for (perhaps former) Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota, who was told by head coach Arthur Smith that he will no longer be the team’s starting […]

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith revealed Monday that Desmond Ridder will be taking over as the starting quarterback going forward, with Marcus Mariota expected to be placed on Injured Reserve. Via Ian Rapoport, Mariota is having tests done on his knee and the organization is expecting he will be out for the rest of […]

The Atlanta Falcons are somehow still hanging around in the NFC South, despite the fact that they have lost four of their past five games. The Falcons have been receiving subpar quarterback play from Marcus Mariota recently, and rumors have been swirling whether or not they could be willing to turn things over to rookie […]

The weekend is almost here, which means it is time for some Atlanta Falcons Week 6 bold predictions. The Falcons return home as they host the San Francisco 49ers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday. Atlanta is coming off a controversial 21-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Late in the fourth quarter, Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett […]

Marcus Mariota is not going to be the long-time answer under center for the Atlanta Falcons following the departure of former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan, which is also why the team selected Desmond Ridder in the 2022 NFL Draft. When asked by Jeff Schultz of The Athletic about how long would it take for the Falcons […]

The Atlanta Falcons had a forgettable Monday, thanks to a disastrous performance on the field that resulted in a 24-16 road loss to the New York Jets. While it’s just a preseason game, the Falcons failed to provide an overall positive impression on head coach Arthur Smith, who did not hold back when he spoke about […]

The 2022 season will be the start of a new era in Atlanta. For the first time since 2007, the Atlanta Falcons will be without quarterback Matt Ryan after he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, sparking a big change for the roster. With a mix of veterans and rookies, the Falcons should be an […]

The Atlanta Falcons were expected to have something of a quarterback competition brewing during training camp, but it turns out that won’t be the case after all. The Falcons announced on Wednesday that Marcus Mariota would be the team’s starting quarterback in 2022, with rookie Desmond Ridder serving as his backup. Via ProFootballTalk, Falcons quarterbacks […]

After the Carolina Panthers acquired Baker Mayfield, all eyes are on the San Francisco 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo. There are a handful of teams the veteran quarterback could be dealt to, but the Atlanta Falcons should at least consider making an offer. The quarterback position is nothing to gloat about and bringing him in could […]

Marcus Mariota is no Ryan Tannehill. While he knows his role with the Atlanta Falcons is to help them win games, he understands how important it is to help nurture the younger generation. Besides, that also puts the team in position to succeed. With the Falcons drafting Desmond Ridder in the 2022 NFL Draft, there […]

Desmond Ridder couldn’t hold back his emotions after the Atlanta Falcons snagged him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati product was largely expected to be drafted late in the first round or early in the second of the draft. However, he fell all the way to the third where the […]

The Atlanta Falcons have a long way to go before becoming competitive once again. However, the front office has laid down a solid foundation to build upon as the franchise aims to get back to title contentions in the future. They made some noise in the 2022 NFL Draft, which means it’s time to give […]

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 […]

This year’s rookie quarterback class has been all over the place, as nobody is certain who the top prospect is. However, the Atlanta Falcons are taking a shot on Desmond Ridder after selecting him in the 2022 NFL Draft at No. 74 overall. It’s a risky decision, but if Ridder pans out then this franchise […]

The 2022 NFL Draft is finally here and every team across the league is finalizing their scouting reports right now. For the Tennessee Titans, this is an important time to acquire young talent for a solid roster. If the front office makes the right decisions, this franchise could remain competitive for years to come. We […]

The 2022 NFL Draft is right around the corner and the Tennessee Titans have multiple options at their disposal. There aren’t any glaring weaknesses on the roster, but some areas that fans would like addressed are tight end, wide receiver, and offensive line. However, the front office has shown a ton of interest in this […]

We are just two weeks away from the NFL Draft, and every NFL team around the league is beginning to finish compiling their draft boards with key workouts and visits with a multitude of different prospects. With the consensus being that this year’s quarterback class is questionable at best, some contending teams may find themselves […]

With Ben Roethlisberger now retired, the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for life after Big Ben. The Steelers signed Mitchell Trubisky signed a two-year deal with the team back in March and they still have Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins, but none of those guys are likely going to be the franchise icon that Roethlisberger turned […]

Cincinnati Bearcats star Desmond Ridder isn’t lacking confidence ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, and his self-assurance appears to be improving his draft stock. Ridder is currently tabbed as a late first-round pick, but reports suggest that teams are quite high on the Cincinnati star, and he could see himself shoot up the board in […]

For all the talk that the 2022 NFL Draft is lacking talent at the quarterback position, Desmond Ridder and Malik Willis are collectively doing all they can to dispel that notion.   Following a strong performance at the NFL Combine, Malik Willis has been seeing his draft stock rise with each passing day. His performance […]

Having players like Jonathan Taylor, Quenton Nelson, and Darius Leonard on an NFL team likely makes you, at worst, a Wild Card team heading into the postseason – yet the Indianapolis Colts somehow managed to not get into the playoffs with that core, setting up for a crucial 2022 NFL offseason. Many eyes are on […]

The Cincinnati Bearcats matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Cotton Bowl is easily the overlooked game of the College Football Playoff. Most people figure the Crimson Tide will just roll into the championship game. Those people might just be surprised on New Year’s Eve. The Bearcats have earned their place in the College […]