Arthur Smith’s job might be in question, but Desmond Ridder’s is not. The Falcons will be in the market for a quarterback this offseason.
The third-round pick has been benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke because the veteran gives the team the best chance to win right now, according to Atlanta’s head coach, adding that Heinicke will be the starter for the final three games.
It’s not hard to see why Ridder was benched. Last Sunday, he committed a costly turnover, the sixth of the season in the red zone, which leads the NFL. He ranks in the bottom three of turnovers and turnover-worthy plays while never seemingly improving in that area.
Ridder had bright moments but most of the time was inconsistent and showed he isn’t a starting-caliber quarterback in this league. His play has put Arthur Smith’s job on the line.
When asked about the future of his head coach, Arthur Blank said, “We’re gonna play these last three games; we play ’em to win ’em. And we’ll let the season play out and go from there. Obviously this has not been the kind of year we expected.”
Smith is essentially coaching for his job over these last three weeks, but the pressure will be on in 2024 if he’s retained. There has to be tangible improvement, which leads to the premise of this blog.
What might be best for Arthur Smith in 2024, might not be what’s best for the Atlanta Falcons.
If Blank does indeed give Smith another season, it’s very unlikely that he’ll put his job in the hands of a rookie or another inexperienced quarterback, which could be what’s best for the club in the long term.
Let me explain. For argument’s sake, assume Caleb Williams and Drake Maye aren’t attainable. That leaves Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix as potential first-round targets for the Falcons.
All three will inevitably experience rookie struggles, and for a coach who needs immediate results, that’s not an enticing option. Instead, Smith could opt for a more proven quarterback that will make the Falcons better in 2024 but might not be the best long-term option — i.e., Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill, Baker Mayfield.
I’d even lump Justin Fields into the same category as Daniels and company. Why would a head coach put his eggs in the basket of a signal caller as unproven as Fields?
From where I sit, the best long-term play would be to trade up for one of Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, or Jayden Daniels. There’s no other option that’s even close. However, Maye and Williams are unrealistic, and Daniels still needs seasoning.
If I were Arthur Smith, I wouldn’t want my job to be tied to a rookie. What’s best for him in 2024, might not be what’s best for the franchise in the long term.
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Photographer: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
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