A year ago, Desmond Ridder was an NFL starting quarterback and there were some people optimistic about what he could do with the Atlanta Falcons.
One year and one team later, he finds himself out of a job.
Ridder will be fired by the Arizona Cardinals. According to NFL MediaThe Cardinals acquired a third-year quarterback this offseason but chose Clayton Tune to replace Kyler Murray. Tune appeared in seven games last season as a rookie and had a 22.6 passer rating.
Ridder had high hopes after a strong finish to his rookie season in 2022. But the Falcons benched him twice last season. In 13 starts, he had 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Falcons moved on, signing Kirk Cousins and trading Ridder to Arizona for wide receiver Rondale Moore. It was an unfortunate trade; Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice.
Ridder played in all three preseason games and completed 20 of 35 passes with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He didn’t do enough to earn a roster spot.
It’s more bad news for the 2022 NFL Draft quarterback class. Kenny Pickett, the only first-round pick in that class, was traded this offseason. Ridder and Malik Willis, the second and third quarterbacks taken in that draft, have already been traded, and Ridder was released by his second team. The only quarterback impacted from the entire class was Brock Purdy, who was the final pick.
Ridder turns 25 at the end of the month, has third-round pick pedigree and has had 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.