How will Calvin Ridley help the Atlanta Falcons' offense this season?

As the 2018 NFL Draft concluded, we look at the impact the Atlanta Falcons can expect from wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

With the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Falcons selected Alabama wide receiver, Calvin Ridley.

In his three seasons at Alabama, Ridley caught 224 passes for 2,781 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Ridley has many outstanding traits including his route running, his ability to break off defenders, and his tendency to make big plays.

The biggest knocks on Ridley were his lack of strength and an issue with drops when he sensed a defender lurking.

Those issues did not stop him from becoming a first round pick though, and he should make a big impact for the Falcons.

Ridley will likely start for the Falcons throughout the season, whether it be on the inside or the outside.

The Falcons will likely utilize him frequently in three-receiver sets with Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu.

This will open up the offense even more for Matt Ryan, and will likely provide an even bigger impact than they received from Taylor Gabriel.

Ridley will also allow the Falcons to rest Julio Jones, which has been an issue in recent seasons.

Whenever Jones was injured or needed a rest, the team struggled to move the chains and frequently put themselves in long situations.

If Ridley can avoid any issues with drops, it’s reasonable to expect him to catch at least 50-55 passes this year.

Although he only scored 19 touchdowns during his career, his ability to get past defenders will be extremely helpful in the red zone.

Although offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian struggled with play-calling this season, he previously worked at Alabama.

This should allow him to have a better idea on how to properly utilize Ridley in the first few weeks of the season.

The Falcons should see this pick as a solid selection and will allow their high-powered offense to keep rolling.

Were you happy with the Falcons choice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.