Falcon Report

Falcons Owner Arthur Blank 'Loves' QB Desmond Ridder; 2023 Starter?

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder is beloved by owner Arthur Blank. Does that mean he'll be the team's starter going into next season?

Jeremy Brener

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It's always a good thing when your boss likes you. It's an even better feeling if he or she loves you, and that's the case for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder.

In an interview with AtlantaFalcons.com, owner Arthur Blank gave a glowing review of Ridder after his rookie season with the Falcons.

"I love our young quarterback," Blank said. "I know he only played four games but the trend line during those four games was all good. He didn't throw the ball to the other team which is a huge factor in winning games. He's not color blind, so I feel good about where we are and I think our fans should feel that way, honestly."

Ridder threw for 708 yards and two touchdowns in his four starts down the stretch this season. His run as the starting quarterback also included a pair of wins against the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a good sign towards his candidacy to be the 2023 starter.

However, Ridder doesn't have the job wrapped up.

While he likely won't be competing against 2022 Week 1 starter Marcus Mariota, a potential cap casualty, the team probably won't put all their eggs in Ridder's basket.

But depending on how the Falcons feel about Ridder, perhaps they will bring in a quarterback he can easily beat for the starting role.

Should the Falcons sign a player like Derek Carr or Jimmy Garoppolo, it will likely mean Ridder starts the season on the bench with no solidified plan to eventually move to Ridder.

However, should the Falcons target a player like Ryan Tannehill or Jacoby Brissett, it could give Ridder an easier opportunity to see the field sooner.

Given Blank's attitude on Ridder, it shows some confidence towards the quarterback position at the moment and it will likely dictate the next move for the Falcons under center.

Follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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