This past summer, general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith of the Atlanta Falcons added nearly everything, spending a total of $190 million in the process.
They improved almost every position, added more playmakers to the offensive line, and completely overhauled Atlanta’s defense.
except from the quarterback.
Desmond Ridder received the keys from Smith and Fontenot, and following a four-game trial to wrap up the 2022 season, he was announced as the starting quarterback at the NFL owners meeting in late March.
In his limited time under center, Ridder—a third-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft—completed 63.5 percent of his throws for 708 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, leading Atlanta to a 2-2 record.
Apparently, this was all Smith and Fontenot required to trust a third-round signal caller with their company.
In the final three games of the season, the Falcons benched Ridder for the second time this season on December 19 and used seasoned backup Taylor Heinicke.
It’s a desperate move, as Atlanta has seen two straight losses come down to the wire, effectively ending their season.