FLOWERY BRANCH -- Rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder, who was selected in the third round of the NFL draft, signed a four-year, $5.4 million contract with the Falcons on Tuesday, according to his agent.
Ridder was the last remaining draft pick to sign. The Falcons rookies reported for training camp Tuesday. ESPN reported the signing first.
Falcons outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie, who was drafted in the second round (38th overall) of the NFL draft this year out of Penn State, signed a four-year, $9.69 million contract Thursday.
The Falcons now have signed all eight of their draft picks.
Ridder, who played at Cincinnati, will compete for the starting quarterback job with Marcus Mariota, when the veterans report for camp July 26.
Wide receiver Drake London, the Falcons’ first-round draft pick, signed his four-year, $24.6 million contract May 12.
London, who played at USC, was drafted eighth overall. He will be expected to step right into the starting lineup and play alongside second-year tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver/running back Cordarrelle Patterson.
Running back Tyler Allgeier, the fifth-round pick; guard Justin Shaffer, a sixth-round pick from Georgia and Cedar Grove High; and tight end John FitzPatrick, a sixth-round pick from Georgia and Marist, signed before the start of rookie minicamp in May.
Inside linebacker Troy Andersen, a second-round pick, and outside linebacker DeAngelo Malone, a third-round pick, signed four-year contracts May 25.
Ridder, after guiding Cincinnati to a 44-6 record and a College Football Playoff berth, has no problem with attempting to prove he’s an NFL starter.
“No, that’s just, it’s just the way of the game,” Ridder said. “That’s just how it goes. We’re coming into this league, and it is a competitive league. Not only at our position, but all the teams in general. So, at the end of the day, whatever your role is, you’re competing in some way or another.”
Ridder and Mariota will get most of the reps when training camp starts because the Falcons do not plan to bring in a fourth quarterback, the proverbial “camp arm” to help with some of the passing drills.
Feleipe Franks, who served as a backup quarterback last season, spent the offseason attempting to convert to the tight end position.
Ridder led the Bearcats to the Peach Bowl against Georgia on Jan. 1, 2021. The Bulldogs needed a Jack Podlesny field goal from 53 yards out with three seconds left to beat the Bearcats 24-21.
The Bearcats posted a big regular-season win over Notre Dame last year on their way to a meeting with Alabama in the Cotton Bowl in a CFP semifinal.
“He was very consistent,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said.
The Falcons traded long-time quarterback Matt Ryan to the Colts for a third-round pick. Ridder and Mariota, who was signed to a modest two-year contract, and Franks are the only quarterbacks on the roster.
Ridder believes he’s a good fit for the Falcons’ offense, which he picked up quickly over the offseason.
“I think it’s something that I fit really well into,” Ridder said. “They picked up Marcus Mariota, as a lot of people know, I compare myself to.”
Here’s Ridder’s draft bio:
Third round (74th overall) – Desmond Ridder, quarterback
Height: 6-3, Weight: 211 Overview: Ridder was the most athletic of the quarterbacks, as Malik Willis didn’t work out at the scouting combine. Ridder was first in the group in the 40-yard dash (4.52), vertical jump (36 inches), and broad jump (10-7). He’s from Louisville and played at St. Xavier High. He redshirted in 2017 before going on to a storied career. He led the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff last season. Ridder was the American Athletic Conference’s offensive player of the year in 2020 and 2021. Last season he completed 251 of 387 passes (64.9%) for 3,334 yards, 30 touchdowns in 14 starter. He set school career records with 87 passing touchdowns and 12,418 yards of total offense.
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