The Atlanta Falcons continue to surround quarterback Desmond Ridder with intriguing talent on offense, acquiring wide receiver Van Jefferson in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old pass catcher appeared to have fallen out of favor in head coach Sean McVay’s offense last year, and it only increased this season with rookie wideout Puka Nacua dominating targets over the first month-plus of the season. Wide receiver Tutu Atwell, tight end Tyler Higbee and running back Kyren Williams all had more targets and receptions than Jefferson over the first five contests this season as well.
Former Super Bowl MVP wideout Cooper Kupp made a triumphant return from injury in Week 5 (matching Jefferson’s eight catches from the entire season and passing him in yards with 118), and there’s simply no room for quarterback Matthew Stafford to look in the 2020 draft pick’s direction anymore.
The Rams’ loss could be the Falcons’ gain if Jefferson can find his 2021 form again.
Expected to line up in three-wide sets with 2022 eighth overall pick Drake London and veteran Mack Hollins, Jefferson adds a possible deep threat and plenty of speed to an already loaded Atlanta offense oozing with potential.
The former Ole Miss and Florida product saw just 31 targets as a rookie but broke out in 2021.
Jefferson finished the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning season with what are still career highs in targets (89), receptions (50), receiving yards (802) and touchdowns (six). His target, receiving yards and touchdown totals were all second on the team, trailing only Kupp.
Jefferson missed the first six games of 2022 due to injury, but when Kupp was shut down for the season with a high ankle sprain, the Brentwood, Tenn. native got hot, scoring a touchdown in three of five games from Weeks 9 to 13 before coming back down to earth again.
Jefferson joins London and Hollins as Ridder’s top wide receivers, as well as stud rookie running back Bijan Robinson and former first-round tight end Kyle Pitts in what could be a lethal attack.
After facing criticism ahead of Atlanta’s Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans, Ridder responded with arguably the best game of his career. The 2022 third-round pick led the Falcons to a 21-19 home victory, finishing 28-for-37 with 329 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions (adding four carries for 10 yards and one score) for 111.2 quarterback rating.
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