Falcons GM Terry Fontenot 'Really Excited' About Desmond Ridder, But...
INDIANAPOLIS -- Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot took to the podium at the Exhibit Hall inside the Indiana Convention Center ahead of the NFL Combine just moments after the team officially released quarterback Marcus Mariota, who started 13 games this past season.
Naturally, the first few questions were about Mariota - and quickly turned to Desmond Ridder, who started the final four contests after being drafted in the third-round last year.
The question at hand - will Ridder be the starting quarterback in 2023? Fontenot shared his thoughts on making a declaration ...
"We wouldn't do that," Fontenot said. "We wouldn't make any announcements like that. And we wouldn't, we're not in the business of anointing players. But again, really excited about the things he's done, but we're going to add to the position."
It's largely the same thing that Fontenot and Falcons coach Arthur Smith have said about Ridder throughout the offseason - they're "really excited, but ..."
Smith said he feels that Ridder has a bright future but opted not to name him the starter, which certainly could come down to who the Falcons "add" to the quarterbacks room.
Fontenot mentioned that this could come free agency or the draft - potentially even at No. 8 overall, leaving all of the doors open.
However, not to be lost in the mix of commitment vs. noncommitment is that Fontenot and Atlanta's decision makers remain impressed by what Ridder put together in his four-game tryout.
Showing marked improvement in each game, Ridder completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 708 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while guiding the Falcons to a 2-2 record.
And perhaps most importantly, Ridder showed several encouraging things that won't show up in the box score - intangible traits, which Fontenot said is the biggest key to quarterback success, in his eyes.
So, whether or not the Falcons commit to him or not, the point remains clear - Ridder made a positive impression in his stint under center and inspired confidence from those within the building.
"We've been really clear with how we feel about Desmond Ridder and what he's done to this point in his career," Fontenot said. "His makeup and just the way he's handled every role that he's been in and what he did over the last four games in the season, he dealt with adversity, he got off the mat and kept fighting.
"So, he has done some good things, and we know he's going to continue to improve this offseason."
Thus, the dilemma becomes whether to believe in the upside or turn to an alternative veteran option - some have tied the Falcons to Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson, while others have brought up San Francisco 49ers signal caller Jimmy Garoppolo.
It remains to be seen whether Atlanta opts for a starting-caliber player or simply somebody to push Ridder ... but there's little doubt the fact that another quarterback will be brought in, even with Ridder's promising stretch and signs of improvement.
"We're going to add to the position whether it's free agency, the draft, or both," said Fontenot. "We've talked about the quarterback position, we want to make sure we continue to add to that position, we want to keep bringing players in. (But still) really excited about Desmond."
With just Ridder and Logan Woodside in the quarterbacks room, it comes with little surprise that Fontenot wants to add more ... but he's set his sights on turning over every stone.
And regardless of what that does - or doesn't - imply about Ridder, Atlanta's third-year general manager still has work to do before reaching a final conclusion on who starts under center next season.
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