ASHBURN — Desmond Ridder robbed us of a potential Taylor Heinicke revenge game.
Last week, the second-year Atlanta Falcons quarterback threw for a career-high 329 yards in a win over the Houston Texans. It was the 24-year-old’s best day in the NFL, and it helped lower the volume on the calls among Falcons fans to bench Ridder in favor of backup Heinicke — the former Commanders quarterback now carrying a clipboard on the sidelines for the Falcons. There’s no guarantee that Atlanta (3-2) would have made the change if Ridder had played poorly, but support for Heinicke had been percolating.
Ridder’s breakout game ensures that the narrative heading into Sunday’s Falcons-Commanders matchup in Atlanta is about two young passers from an unconventional quarterback class instead of what would have been a dramatic showdown pitting mentor (Heinicke) versus mentee (Sam Howell).
Ridder and Commanders starter Howell are each members of last year’s relatively unheralded quarterback class that has become significantly more intriguing than analysts projected at the time.
Last year’s draft was downgraded at the time by experts who cited a lack of top-tier quarterback prospects. And NFL teams agreed: Only one quarterback — Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett — was drafted in the first round, marking the first time that had happened since 2013.
But more than a year later, the 2022 class has produced four starters: Pickett, Ridder, Howell and San Francisco’s Brock Purdy — the latter of whom has exceeded all expectations and looks to be the best of them all.
The 2022 class stands out in another regard: This is a group of young would-be NFL signal-callers who, for the most part, have actually had a little time to develop. In an era in which rookie quarterbacks are expected to produce immediately, none of the 2022 quarterback picks were immediate Day 1 starters.
But the teams that gave those quarterbacks a chance to watch and learn seem to be reaping dividends now.
“I think it was a refreshing year because these quarterbacks weren’t overdrafted and then they weren’t rushed onto the field,” said Dane Brugler, NFL writer and lead draft analyst for The Athletic. “It was a very unique quarterback year … Usually, quarterbacks are overdrafted. Usually, they’re pushed onto the field way quicker than they should be before they’re ready.
“This was just one of those years where optimism wasn’t as high and teams were willing to be more realistic and patient about who these guys are. I think in the long run, that has paid off,” he said.
Of the four starters, Howell had to wait the longest to see the field. The 23-year-old didn’t make his debut until Week 18 of last season. But looking back on the experience, Howell said there were benefits to seeing what game weeks were like and what defenses like to do in the NFL. Learning those aspects of the league, Howell said, was helpful rather than having to learn it on the fly.
Howell also credited Heinicke for giving him a veteran quarterback’s perspective on how to go about the job on a daily basis. “He was always just someone willing to help me learn,” Howell said. And at the end of the year, Heinicke urged coach Ron Rivera to allow Howell to start Washington’s season finale rather than split duties between the two. Initially, Rivera was leaning toward starting Heinicke with the plan that Howell would replace him midway through the game.
That start gave Rivera and Co. enough of a glimpse to stick with Howell this year.
“If you get the opportunity to sit a year, I think that first year you play will definitely be better than if you just played as a rookie,” said Howell, who wasn’t drafted until the fifth round in 2022.
Ridder also had the benefit of learning behind then-Falcons starter Marcus Mariota. The Falcons, though, turned to Ridder with four games left last season after Mariota’s struggles. And the third-rounder played well enough to convince Atlanta not to pursue high-profile quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson in the offseason. The Falcons instead signed Heinicke to a two-year, $14 million contract to mentor Ridder.
Ridder and Howell have each had up-and-down starts to 2023. The Falcons deploy a run-centric offense. And when Atlanta has asked Ridder to throw, the results haven’t always been satisfying. Howell, by contrast, has impressed with his accuracy and poise, but his habit of taking sacks — 29 through five games — has him on pace to break the league’s record for most in a season (76).
Both passers, though, have shown signs of improvement. Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said Thursday that Ridder has done a better job of getting the ball out quicker in recent weeks. And Howell has cut down on his turnovers with six (five interceptions, one fumble) in the first three games and only one in the last two.
“The truth of the matter is looking at any group after a year is way too early to draw a conclusion,” Rivera said. “I really do mean that. … To me, it’s kind of rash if you look at it that way and start judging it based off of limited opportunities or time.”
Rivera is right in that it’s still early to draw any firm conclusions about the strength of a draft class after just one year. Is Purdy, for instance, really on the track for superstardom? Ridder, Howell and Pickett will have to play well enough to convince they’re worth building around. Other signal-callers from 2022 who have yet to get a consistent opportunity include New England’s Bailey Zappe, Tennessee’s Malik Willis and free agent Matt Corral.
That said, last year’s class comes with adjusted expectations. People might be more patient with Ridder’s struggles because he was taken in the third round rather than the first, Brugler said. That two-round difference alleviates pressure and helps prevent labels of a player being a “bust,” he added.
“It’s very different than how most quarterback classes go,” Brugler said.
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