As the Atlanta Falcons' revolving door at quarterback has continued this offseason with the addition of Tua Tagovailoa and the departure of Kirk Cousins, another notable former Falcons quarterback has found a new landing spot.
Desmond Ridder was drafted by the organization ahead of the 2022 season and would quickly be billed as the future of the franchise after spending the majority of the 22 season sitting behind veteran Marcus Mariota. Ridder's ascension was short-lived and left the Falcons so anxious to turn the page that the franchise would draft Michael Penix Jr. and sign Kirk Cousins in the same offseason.
Since leaving the Falcons, Ridder has bounced around the league, spending time with the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and Cincinnati Bengals. The 2026 offseason brought a new landing spot with Ridder signing for $1.2 million with the Green Bay Packers.
It didn't take long for it to become obvious that the Packers weren't satisfied with Ridder, as the franchise attached itself to Kirk Cousins and was rumored to be targeting a potential upgrade behind starter Jordan Love before the veteran landed with the Las Vegas Raiders. This made it incredibly clear that Ridder isn't a trusted backup and that his lack of ability to find a landing spot appears to be setting up a likely exit from the league.
Former Falcons QB Desmond Ridder Quickly Running Out of Chances
It is important to note that Falcons fans have no reason to hold any malice against Ridder, who simply was put in a position he wasn't suited to fill. Atlanta's past decision-makers are the ones that many Falcons fans hold in contempt, while Ridder was always the ultimate pro during his time in Atlanta. The signal caller would always go to the podium and take it on the chin for the inevitable fumbles and interceptions that would melt away Atlanta's chances at contention.
With that said, the quarterback's demeanor and accountability aren't taking away the fact that we are now approaching the fifth year of his career, and there is no reason to believe that the signal caller is going to find a way to stick around much longer.
Green Bay is already looking for a better answer, and Ridder was bouncing throughout the league. before he even arrived in Wisconsin, which tells a clear story. The quarterback simply hasn't shown the ability to produce at a consistent enough level to even garner interest as a backup.
If Ridder doesn't find a way to make things work with the Packers, it wouldn't be surprising if this is the end of the road for the former Falcon. The lack of offseason interest forcing the quarterback to settle for signing such a low-paying deal with a franchise that is already looking to replace him is incredibly telling. Ridder is very quickly running out of time with it becoming increasingly clear that the quarterback's time in the league is reaching its end.