It’s official. After speculation leading up to the deadline for NFL teams to trim rosters to 53 players, the Cardinals have parted ways with former Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder.
Cardinals releasing QB Desmond Ridder. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/VW8NEIP2Cn
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2024
Earlier this offseason, the Falcons traded Ridder to the Cardinals in exchange for Rondale Moore. Unfortunately, the change of scenery didn’t help either. Moore’s season ended before it began when he went down with a non-contact season-ending injury, while Ridder’s hope lingered a little longer.
In the end, Ridder’s career will be defined by his failures as a starter in Atlanta. Arthur Smith gave him the keys to an offense that boasted three top 10 picks at skill positions in Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson. Ridder didn’t do anything with the opportunity.
Across 13 starts last season, he completed 64.2% of his passes for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Though some fans would have you believe Arthur Smith was the architect of all of Atlanta’s struggles last year, he was calling games with one arm tied behind his back with Ridder as quarterback.
Smith deserves a share of the blame for even giving Ridder the reigns without any semblance of a quarterback competition, and I’m much happier as a Falcons fan with Raheem Morris, but the notion that Smith was primarily responsible for Atanta’s shortcomings is false.
Ridder will hit free agency if he clears waivers, but a team like the Cardinals, who have a clear need for a backup quarterback, parting ways with him doesn’t bode well for his potential opportunities in the future.
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Photographer: Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire
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