The Ringer's Ben Solak on Desmond Ridder: 'Showed Enough Last Season'

Ridder's is the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback heading into the season.

CINCINNATI — The Ringer's Ben Solak is pretty confident in Desmond Ridder's chances of leading the Atlanta Falcons to the 2024 NFL Playoffs.

Solak watched a few of Ridder's games from last season recently and thinks he has enough to unlock a talented Atlanta roster.

"The big question mark is Desmond Ridder," Solak said about the Falcons' outlook. "I went back, and I watched two Ridder games this morning. I feel the exact same way as I felt about him at the end of the season. He's good enough. He's absolutely 100% Kirk Cousins able, on a Cousins trajectory. He is (Ryan) Tannehill-ish, right? I am not like sitting here and telling you Desmond Ridder is going to be a top-10 quarterback in the NFL next year, but he is perfectly capable of providing the caliber of quarterback play that has previously gotten teams running a similar sort of offense with this sort of structure over the line into January football.

"I don't think the Falcons are winning the NFC next season. I do think that Ridder in terms of pocket management in terms of arm talent, and terms of accuracy, showed enough last season that you can feel good."

He is the first Bearcats passer since Greg Cook in 1973 to enter an NFL season as QB1.

Ridder posted a 2-2 record last season while passing for 708 yards on 63.5% completion, with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. 

The Cincinnati legend set the school's passing touchdown and total yards record over his dynamic career.

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