As the NFL Combine begins, the Falcons continue to be referenced in any and all quarterback discussions.
Justin Fields has been connected to the Atlanta opening, but Steve Wyche believes Terry Fontenot will not target the Georgia native. In a similar spirit, Peter King sees the Falcons moving up the draft board as a viable option.
The offseason will be a rollercoaster as the new league year approaches. Choosing a Day 2 option is an uncommon path. It’s not a popular option because the Falcons tried it with third-round pick Desmond Ridder, which cost Arthur Smith his job.
The Falcons must abandon half-measures, but one particularly intriguing candidate who isn’t among the first-round picks is Spencer Rattler, who CBS Sports says is an ideal match for the Falcons.
The Falcons have plenty of offensive talent. Running back Bijan Robinson, their ninth overall pick in 2023, had the most scrimmage yards (1,463) of any rookie in team history. That figure was also the second-highest in the league among rookies last season, trailing only Rams wide out Puka Nacua’s 1,575 yards from scrimmage.
Atlanta also possesses two extremely excellent pass catchers: wide receiver Drake London (the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft) and tight end Kyle Pitts (the fourth overall choice in the 2021 NFL Draft). Chris Lindstrom, a two-time Pro Bowl right guard, received the highest offensive grade from Pro Football Focus at 89.7.
They only need a quarterback. Desmond Ridder, who had the fourth-lowest predicted points added per play among 32 qualified quarterbacks in 2023, is not the solution. Rattler may be able to reach his five-star recruit ceiling by playing in an offence loaded with other top-tier talent.
The Senior Bowl MVP’s college career was anything but ordinary. Rattler had a good season as a redshirt freshman at Oklahoma, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns with only seven interceptions, but he rapidly fell out of favour in Norman.
The former top high school recruit was benched in favour of freshman sensation Caleb Williams, who is expected to be the first overall choice in the upcoming draft. When Lincoln Riley left for sunny California to become head coach at USC, Rattler decided to transfer to the other USC in South Carolina.
Rattler’s numbers aren’t particularly impressive, but if you watched any games this season, you’ll know how bad the Gamecocks’ offensive line was. Rattler was running for his life at times.
I’m not completely turned off by the prospect of drafting someone like Spencer Rattler on Day 2, but it does seem a little strange with Desmond Ridder still under contract. The Falcons don’t need three quarterbacks, and picking Rattler would hopefully coincide with finding a veteran to step in to start the season.
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