Spoiler:
Bleacher Report
The Atlanta Falcons made a number of major changes in the offseason. They spent big money adding pieces on defense such as safety Jessie Bates and linebacker Kaden Elliss. With their first pick in the 2023 draft, they selected explosive running back Bijan Robinson.
But all those moves won't amount to much if one thing doesn't happen in Atlanta this year.
Second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder has to take the next step as a quarterback, although Randy Mueller of The Athletic is not convinced there is another step to take:
"My concern still starts with the fact Ridder has played a lot of football, becoming the starter at University of Cincinnati his redshirt freshman year and throwing 810 career collegiate passes, which is way more than most. Yet, is there an advancement coming? At this point, he is more of an executor, and not a playmaker. I'm not sure that's sustainable at the NFL level."
The good news is that the Falcons don't have a ton invested in Ridder. And for what it's worth, the 24-year-old was Bleacher Report's No. 1 quarterback prospect in 2022.
If the Falcons are going to have any real shot of winning a weak NFC South in 2023, though, Ridder is going to have to show he's a legitimate starting QB and not just a placeholder.
