When should Desmond Ridder see game action in Atlanta?

The Atlanta Falcons drafted Desmond Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. When should they consider playing the rookie?  The Falcons are a very interesting team to me.  Through three games, they are one of the very best offenses in the NFL.

Last year, they were a mediocre team, going 7-10 with an old Matt Ryan.  Now in 2022, they look a bit more rejuvenated on offense, but their defense is clearly the weak unit of this team.  Arthur Smith is 1-2 through three games, and it’s clear that what he’s doing on the offensive side of the ball is working.

Their offense is indeed a playoff type, but it’s clear that the team is still a year or two away from competing for a playoff spot.  Being in year two of a rebuild and taking a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft mostly proves that.  Marcus Mariota hasn’t been great, but the offense is a well-oiled machine.

However, they did take Desmond Ridder in the third round, and many across the NFL saw a bunch of similarities between Ridder and Mariota.  Being that everyone knows who Marcus Mariota is; he’s a serviceable, low end starter who could carve out a career serving as a bridge, when should we expect the team to play Ridder?

We’ve seen that Mariota can run the offense, which is great, but I think a time may come where the coaching staff simply needs to find out whether or not Desmond Ridder has the ability to play at the NFL level.  Plus, it’s clear that he likely has a higher ceiling than Mariota until he proves otherwise.

The Falcons have been in every game they’ve played this season, so I don’t think we’ll see Desmond Ridder take the field unless the team starts losing.  On the other hand, I do wonder if the Falcons consider themselves to be in play for one of the top draft picks in 2023.

The NFC is weak, but the Falcons are overall a weaker team.  I’m very intrigued by this situation and do hope that we get to see the rookie at some point.