What Does Falcons 'Nightmare' Season Look Like?
The Atlanta Falcons have high hopes for the 2023 season with a new quarterback, running back and several promising additions to the defensive side of the ball.
There's much reason to believe that the Falcons can reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017, especially considering the fact that the NFC South is in flux. The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are clinging onto hopes that average starting quarterbacks can lead them to the top, while the Carolina Panthers fully hit the reset button by trading up for No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. The opportunity window is opening for the Falcons and the dream of winning the division isn't completely far-fetched.
But what does a Falcons nightmare season look like? Bleacher Report explains.
"The over-drafted Bijan Robinson can't save Desmond Ridder, but he, Kyle Pitts and Drake London keep the Falcons from the top of the 2024 draft by helping them win too many games," Bleacher Report writes.
This year is make-or-break for Ridder. The Falcons neglected to sign a better free agent or draft a quarterback to give him a true shot at being QB1. With just four starts to his name, the Falcons feel like he hasn't had a large enough sample size. If Ridder fails to live up to expectations, Atlanta can opt to take a quarterback early in next year's draft.
With Caleb Williams entering the season as the projected No. 1 pick, the Falcons may not be in his range if they win five or six games. Then, the goal would be to find Drake Maye from North Carolina, or Quinn Ewers from Texas. However, Atlanta may win too many games to keep them in that range as well. Then, the Falcons would be flying in to NFL mediocrity, probably the worst place you can be in as a franchise.
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