The Atlanta Falcons have had their fill of quarterback drama over the past 12 months. Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract last spring but it led to the Falcons selecting Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick in the draft.
Cousins played through injury, though it wasn’t enough to keep him from getting benched, giving Penix the starting role and creating the NFL’s most intense staring contest.
Cousins is still with the Falcons but nobody knows how much longer that will be the case. While Penix is ready to enter his first full season as a starter, quarterback drama isn’t just limited to Atlanta. It follows the case of another former Atlanta quarterback who is still looking for a job and was passed over with an announcement on Wednesday morning.
Desmond Ridder Still Looking For A Job After Bengals Sign Logan Woodside
The Cincinnati Bengals revealed on Wednesday that they have signed free-agent quarterback Logan Woodside. The 30-year-old was selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft but didn’t appear in his first game with the Tennessee Titans during the 2020 season.
After 11 games in Tennessee over two seasons, Woodside spent the 2022 and 2023 season with the Falcons before joining Cincy.
We have signed free agent QB Logan Woodside.
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) April 16, 2025
📰: https://t.co/X9MJODmHOs pic.twitter.com/KRxbBoPaHD
The decision to bring Woodside back is interesting as he’s attempted just seven passes in his NFL career. But it has another Falcons tie when you consider Desmond Ridder is still a free agent.
Ridder was selected by Atlanta in the third round (74th overall) of the 2022 draft and received the chance to start late in the 2022 season. His opportunity didn’t turn into a long-term stay, however, as Ridder went 8-9 as a starter, completing 64% of his passes for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over his two seasons.
The struggles led the Falcons to signing Cousins and trading Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals last offseason. After spending the first seven weeks on the Cardinals’ practice squad, Ridder was traded again to the Las Vegas Raiders last October and appeared in six games including a start where he completed 23-of-39 passes for 208 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against the Falcons on Dec. 16.
While Woodside’s resume isn’t filled with the volume Ridder has accumulated during his career, there must be a reason why he’s been able to stick around in the league. As a third string quarterback to Joe Burrow and Jake Browning, it could be a behind the scenes element that keeps Woodside around and it’s something Ridder may have to turn to if he wants another shot in the NFL.