Cincinnati WR Tre Tucker Meets Twice with Falcons, Eyes Desmond Ridder Reunion
The Atlanta Falcons have a glaring need for receivers, and coach Arthur Smith cited the need for more explosiveness offensively - so how about drafting a player who checks both boxes?
Enter University of Cincinnati wideout Tre Tucker.
Expected to be a mid-round pick, Tucker could've easily pursued track and field out of high school in Akron, Ohio. He won eight state championships and clocked a 10.41 100-meter, the third fastest time of any former track athlete participating at the NFL Combine.
But Tucker, who received track offers from SEC teams, truly loved football - and found a quarterback in college that only helped grow that passion.
"Desmond Ridder, that's my guy," Tucker said of Atlanta's quarterback when speaking with Falcon Report at the Combine. "I actually FaceTimed him probably a month ago, I was very excited for him. But yeah, he's been my guy."
Across three years together with the Bearcats, Ridder and Tucker watched their chemistry ascend, as the latter finished with 59 receptions for 754 yards and five touchdowns in that span, including 34 receptions for 426 yards and two scores in 2021, their last ride together.
With Ridder and star receiver Alec Pierce, an eventual second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts, off to the NFL, Tucker stepped into a bigger role this past season ... and blossomed.
After two years of earning all-conference honors as a kick returner, Tucker caught 52 passes for 671 yards and three touchdowns. He earned an invite to the Reese's Senior Bowl and had a strong week, impressing with his quickness and ability to create separation.
When thinking of the 5-9, 182-pound Tucker, "strong" is something of an oddity - but it shouldn't be.
Per The Athletic, Tucker can squat 600 pounds and has done 16 bench press reps of 225 pounds ... while still logging a 1.48 10-yard split and running a 4.40 40-yard dash.
With multiple rounds of the pre-draft process underway, teams have had several exposures to Tucker - and the Falcons have capitalized on the opportunity.
Tucker said that he's met with Atlanta twice - once at the Senior Bowl, as he did with every team, and then again at the Combine, meeting informally, presumably with receivers coach T.J. Yates.
The meetings "went well," per Tucker - and one source indicates that Atlanta feels similarly.
So, why Tucker?
There's the obvious element of speed and explosiveness, something the Falcons are sorely lacking. But beyond that, Tucker is projected to play the slot in the NFL - and Olamide Zaccheaus, Atlanta's starter at that position, is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Further, Smith has stressed the need rotational receivers to be able to contribute on special teams ... and perhaps nobody has a better profile in that regard than Tucker.
Beyond ranking fifth in Bearcats history in yards per kick return (24.93) and third in kick returns (67) and kick return yards (1,670), Tucker had a stellar season on special teams coverage, finishing with 16 tackles.
The Falcons have the return spot figured out with running backs Avery Williams and Cordarrelle Patterson handling punts and kicks, respectively, but Tucker would provide a valuable reserve option while starring on coverage teams.
With his quickness of the line and nuanced release packages, Tucker projects well as a gunner, and his experience as a defensive back in high school plus work on punt returns at Cincinnati suggests he'll be a fine jammer, as well.
In essence, Tucker could be a several-phase contributor while adding a much-needed element of speed to Atlanta's offense.
Oh, and it doesn't hurt that the 21-year-old has a proven track record with Ridder, who started the last four games of his rookie season and has a chance to be Atlanta's Week 1 starter.
Does Tucker want to run it back with Ridder? He didn't hesitate.
"Of course," Tucker said. "That's my guy."
And come draft weekend, thanks to Tucker's explosiveness, versatility and rapport with Ridder, it's possible Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot utters similar words inside Atlanta's war room.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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