Desmond Ridder 'Connection' Helps Josh Ali Make Falcons Roster
The Atlanta Falcons are a team filled with offensive weapons like tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London and most recently, running back Bijan Robinson.
However, the touches outside of the Falcons' big three are up for grabs; Josh Ali could be in line for those targets after making the initial 53-man roster.
Despite going undrafted out of Kentucky in 2022, Ali hopes to float up Atlanta's depth chart like a butterfly and sting defenses like a bee. Standing six feet tall and weighing 193 pounds, Ali has good size for the position and, even more importantly, chemistry with Falcons starting quarterback Desmond Ridder.
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"Any of those times that you have guys that you're together through a long period of time, whether it's rookie year (or) scout team, you start to build a relationship and connection with those guys," Ridder said. "I would definitely say me and Josh have a connection. It started early on with him playing at Kentucky, being from Big Blue Nation, and me giving him crap about all that, but he's a great player for us."
After spending most of his rookie season on the practice squad, it appears that Ali has a legitimate chance to start in his second season thanks to the camaraderie he formed with Ridder during their rookie year when both were hungry backups.
While some Falcons fans may not like the idea of an undrafted player starting, plenty of examples prove that quality receivers can come from the practice squad. In recent history, Ali can look at divisional rival Adam Thielen of the Carolina Panthers and his multiple Pro Bowl seasons as a source of inspiration for what an UDFA can become by developing strong chemistry with their quarterback.
Legendary Kentucky boxer Muhammad Ali once said, "I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was."
If Atlanta's Ali follows the same mantra, the Falcons' offense should be ready to knock out any defense standing in their way this upcoming season.
