What should we expect from Falcons QB Desmond Ridder in Year 1? Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling breaks down the situation in Atlanta.
In 2012, the Seattle Seahawks drafted Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson with the 75th overall pick in one of the NFL’s all-time great draft steals. Ten years later, the Atlanta Falcons drafted Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder with the 74th overall pick, and the team is hoping for similar results.
However, very few players have Wilson’s combination of arm talent, leadership and poise under pressure, and before we go anointing Ridder as the next great draft steal, the rookie must first beat out veteran Marcus Mariota for the starting job.
Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft and former Georgia Bulldog, made his case to be the Falcons’ new starting QB.
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted former Georgia guard Anthony Edwards with the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. Two years later, the Atlanta native is thriving both on and off the court.
Edwards averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Timberwolves during his second season and recently landed a role in the Netflix film Hustle, starring Adam Sandler.
On Wednesday, a video of Edwards heaving a football down the field with ease began circulating on Twitter. After making the throw, the former Bulldog jokingly said he was trying out to be the Falcons’ new starting quarterback.
Falcons TE Kyle Pitts appears to be picking up right where he left off last season. Watch as he lays out for a catch at minicamp practice.
The Falcons held their second mandatory minicamp practice on Wednesday and star tight end Kyle Pitts appears to be picking up right where he left off last season.
Pitts established himself as one of the NFL’s top pass-catching tight ends in 2021, racking up over 1,000 receiving yards and nearly surpassing Mike Ditka’s rookie record set way back in 1962. Big things are expected from the former Florida standout this season, but that’s nothing new.
Watch as Pitts lays out to catch a pass from Marcus Mariota at Wednesday’s minicamp practice, as shared by the team’s Twitter account below.
A.J. Terrell highlights: Falcons CB is establishing himself as one of the NFLâs elite players
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell had a tremendous second season in 2021, but that’s news to folks outside of Atlanta. The spotlight was stolen by another second-year defender, Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs, who led the NFL with 11 interceptions while helping lead Dallas to the playoffs.
In comparison, the Falcons went 7-10 last year and Terrell’s three interceptions weren’t enough for your casual NFL fan to take notice. If you turn on the film, however, Terrell’s play warranted the same level of recognition that Diggs received.
People are finally coming around, though. On Sunday, the NFL’s Twitter account shared a highlight video of Terrell’s 2021 season.
Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell and right guard Chris Lindstrom were named to Touchdown Wire’s most underrated players list.
As Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith recently stated, “any good team knows how to rebuild every year.” When you have the same quarterback for 14 years, though, it can cover up for a lot of other areas.
The Falcons finally ripped the band-aid off and traded Matt Ryan back in March, opening the door for a new era of football in Atlanta. While it may be a bit rocky at first, the future looks bright with young stars like cornerback A.J. Terrell, tight end Kyle Pitts and guard Chris Lindstrom in place.
Terrell and Lindstrom were recently named to Touchdown Wire’s most underrated offensive and defensive teams. Here’s what Doug Farrar had to say about each player.
Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts will be forced into more of a leadership role this season with so many new faces on offense.
When the Falcons used the fourth overall pick on Kyle Pitts back in 2021, the team still had Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage on the roster. However, Jones was traded to Tennessee last June, Ridley played in just five games last season, and Gage has since signed with Tampa Bay.
Pitts now enters his second NFL season as one of the team’s most accomplished offensive skill players. He may be the only 1,000-yard receiver on the roster but the 21-year-old is still seeking advice from his teammates.
“I’m learning from [Anthony Firkser]. Firk been in this for some years and I’m just always wanting to get better,” Pitts said about Atlanta’s new No. 2 tight end. “So, he’s been in Tennessee playing a different offense and I ask him a question every other play. So, I try and just soak up as much knowledge as I can.”
Firkser spent three seasons in Tennessee with Arthur Smith, and while he wasn’t the No. 1 option, he played a key role on a Titans offense that utilized multiple tight ends.
“That’s something that I want to try and work towards — to being one of the top leaders on the team, and on the offense as well,” Pitts continued. “Like I said, that’s something that this offseason, I want to go into and watch behind Marcus, and Jake, and all the other vet guys and learn how to be a leader.”
The Falcons have more than a handful of new faces this season. Perhaps the biggest change is at the quarterback position where the team is replacing veteran Matt Ryan after 14 years. Pitts knows he will have to work extra hard to develop chemistry with Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder.
“I think with practice, that builds chemistry. So, just going out, routes on there, just throwing with him after practice. things like that, that builds chemistry.”
As a player, individually, the biggest thing Pitts has worked on is understanding the game on a deeper level so he can dissect defenses more efficiently.
“I would say from year one to year two coming in this time, like you said, just mentally trying to get better. And there’s always room for improvement and physically getting stronger, bigger, faster.”
We asked Falcons fans to grade each of the team’s eight selections in the 2022 NFL draft.
The 2022 NFL draft was as unpredictable as most expected it to be, but the experts had mostly favorable reactions to the Atlanta Falcons’ eight-player class. What about the fans, though?
Here are the final results from each of our Falcons post-draft fan polls.
The Falcons announced the jersey numbers for all eight members of their 2022 rookie draft class.
While grading rookies before they play a snap in the NFL is seemingly an irrelevant excercise, analysts did however peg the Falcons as one of the bigger winners from this past draft.
The team pulled in eight rookies and took chances at key positions, including the quarterback outside linebacker spots. Now that Atlanta’s rookie class is in place, what number will each player wear?
The Atlanta Falcons wrapped up their 2022 NFL draft class on Saturday by adding Georgia tight end John FitzPatrick.
The Atlanta Falcons wrapped up their 2022 NFL draft class on Saturday by adding Georgia tight end John FitzPatrick with the 213th selection.
Primarily a blocking specialist, FitzPatrick is the second straight Bulldogs player drafted by Atlanta. He will add depth at the tight end position behind Kyle Pitts and Anthony Firkser. Since 2019, FitzPatrick recorded 17 catches for 200 yards and one touchdown.
With Darnell Washington questionable itâs important to remember John Fitzpatrick.
Heâs the highest graded run blocker for UGA and his blocking will be key with Clemsonâs pass rush. At 6â6â heâs a red zone threat. With Bowers upright and Fitz inline UGA can run its full offense pic.twitter.com/idnst5Q7OB
The Falcons signed long snapper Liam McCullough to a one-year deal on Wednesday.
At the start of free agency, former Falcons long snapper Josh Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving the front office with yet another hole to fill.
Harris, who made the Pro Bowl last season, was initially replaced with veteran Beau Brinkley. The Falcons werenât done addressing the position, though, signing Liam McCullough to a one-year deal on Wednesday.
