Atlanta Falcons News: Trade Gives Kirk Cousins Speedy Weapon

News broke Thursday via NFL insider Ian Rapoport that the Atlanta Falcons plan to trade last year's primary starting quarterback Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for Rondale Moore. Ridder certainly had his highs and lows in 2023, going 6-7 as a starter, until he was eventually replaced by Taylor Heinicke.

Ridder had an underrated 2023 season, throwing for 2,836 yards, completing 64.2% of his passes, and totaling 12 touchdown passes with 12 interceptions. He also showcased his mobility, rushing for 193 yards and 5 touchdowns. That said, it wasn't enough and the team underperformed.

Of course, a large reason Kirk Cousins is in Atlanta is to spark an offense that could be up for a serious increase in production. The Falcons already traded for Darnell Mooney and have added Moore to bolster what is becoming a sneakily good WR room led by Drake London.

Rondale Moore had a productive 2023 season, tallying 40 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown. He also contributed in the rushing game, adding 178 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.

Additionally, with Kyle Pitts at tight end, that's a lot of speed for Cousins, known for his big arm, to work with. Pitts came into the league expected to become a game-changing talent in the NFL, redefining the role of the tight end position. With his rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism, Pitts presents matchup nightmares for opposing defenses. We'll see if speed on the outside can free him up for what many hope will be his breakout season.

Many wonder if Kirk Cousins will be able to recover fully from his Achilles surgery, and whether he'll be able to play at the high level we all know he's capable of. There was fear the salary-cap hit taken to acquire him would allow the Falcons to sign enough top targets to help him succeed as QB. Well, with the lineup it looks like they might be trotting out next year formulating, it appears that they're helping to increase his chances.

As for Desmond Ridder, he heads to an Arizona team that needs a steady backup behind injury-prone Kyler Murray if they have any semblance of being at all competitive.

Murray actually shut down doubters last year in a relatively successful showing. He displayed his usual versatility, passing for 1,799 yards and 10 touchdowns, while completing 65.7% of his passes. Murray also rushed for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns in the eight games he was able to play.

That said, his style of play and injury history could keep him off the field next year at points in time. Enter Ridder. That's not a bad quarterback room for a team that desperately needs to step up to recover from the doldrums of the NFL.

Correction 3/15/2024, 11 a.m. ET: This article was updated to correct Desmond Ridder's 2023 stats.