Former Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback, Desmond Ridder, has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, per NFL Network’s Ian Rappaport.
Ridder has made several stops around the league since starting 15 games for the Dirty Birds in 2023.
In 2024, Ridder started a handful of games at the end of the season for the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders lost every game he started/appeared in.
Before making his way to Vegas, Ridder had a brief stint in Arizona. He spent the offseason with the Cardinals, but was cut before the season started. This was fresh off of his 15 start season with Atlanta.
After being ran out of Vegas, Ridder once again signed an offseason deal, this time with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was signed by the Bengals on July 20th, lasted just over a month, and was subsequently cut by the Bengals on August 26th.
Now, coincidentally four days before the Vikings are set to play the Bengals, the Vikings have signed the well traveled quarterback.
Now, could it be because their starter JJ McCarthy is injured and they want to have some depth in the room? Sure. But they already have Super Bowl champion Carson Wentz and a rookie behind him.
Surely the fact that Ridder spent a month learning Cincinnati’s playbook has nothing to do with the signing, right?
Regardless, the former Falcons‘ draft pick now picks up a paycheck with his fifth NFL team in four years.
Desmond Ridder’s Career In Atlanta
Desmond Ridder was a dark times quarterback, he was brought in two years after the firing of Dan Quinn. The team turned to Arthur Smith in 2021 to provide a fresh start.
Smith ended every season as head coach with exactly seven wins and ten losses. After his first 7-10 season, Ridder was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 74th overall selection.
In what has become known as the worst quarterback class in this era of football, it is hard to throw too much blame on this decision. He was picked ahead of guys like Sam Howell, Malik Willis, Matt Corral, etc. He was just a product of the round pegs in square holes draft class.
He started the last four games of his rookie year, winning the final two to salvage another 7-10 record. He threw just two touchdowns in those four games, finishing with a QBR of just 52.o.
Still, it was enough to earn him a second year behind the wheel. In year two, Ridder started the full season throwing for 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on his way to an even worse QBR of 40.8.
When Smith was fired, so too was Ridder.
Desmond Ridder Career Earnings
Ridder turned 26-years-old just a few weeks ago. He made more than $2.5 million during his two year stay in Hotlanta.
Since leaving, he has cut a check from four different franchises. His Vikings‘ contract has not yet been announced, but according to Spotrac, his career earnings sit no lower than 4.1 million dollars.
Not a bad living for a 26-year-old.
Former Falcons’ Starting QB Signs With Vikings