A year ago, Desmond Ridder was a starting quarterback in the NFL and some people were optimistic about what he could do with the Atlanta Falcons.
A year and a team later, he found himself unemployed.
Ridder to be released by Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL MediaThe Cardinals traded for the third-year quarterback this offseason, but they selected Clayton Tune to back up Kyler Murray. Tune appeared in seven games last season as a rookie and had a passer rating of 22.6.
Ridder had high hopes after a strong finish to his rookie season in 2022. But he was benched twice last season by the Falcons. In 13 starts, he threw 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Falcons then signed Kirk Cousins and traded Ridder to Arizona for receiver Rondale Moore. It was a cursed trade; Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice.
Ridder played in all three preseason games and completed 20 of 35 passes and had no touchdowns, but no interceptions either. He didn’t do enough to earn a roster spot.
This is more bad news for the 2022 NFL Draft quarterback class. Kenny Pickett, the only first-round pick in the class, was traded this offseason. Ridder and Malik Willis, the second and third quarterbacks selected in the draft, have already been traded, and Ridder was released by his second team. The only quarterback pick in the entire class was Brock Purdy, who was the last pick.
Ridder will be 25 at the end of the month, has third-round draft pedigree, and has flashes of looking like a viable NFL quarterback. That should give him another chance. If he signs with someone, it will be Ridder’s third team in 2024.