In March, the Cardinals gave up Rondale Moore for Desmond Ridder, marking one of some trades this 12 months involving a 2022 QB draftee. Arizona is shifting on rapidly.
While Ridder could still be in the Cardinals’ plans (via the practice squad), he must clear waivers first. After battling for the team’s backup job with 2023 draftee Clayton Tune, Ridder acquired phrase he shall be lower, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Between their Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. additions, the Falcons rapidly moved to deal Ridder. The staff had benched the 2022 third-rounder twice final season, a 12 months that led to Arthur Smith‘s ouster. Going into the Playing cards’ offseason program, it had been assumed that Ridder would seemingly be Kyler Murray‘s new backup, however Tune has modified the equation. The 2023 fifth-rounder will stay in that function, with Ridder now out there to be claimed earlier than Wednesday’s 11 a.m. CT deadline.
This transfer may include an damage designation. Ridder sustained a concussion within the Cardinals’ preseason finale in opposition to the Broncos. Tune accomplished 67% of his preseason passes and averaged 6.9 yards per try. Ridder closed at 57% and 6.4 yards per go. Tune additionally spent the second half of final season as Murray’s backup. Though Tune submitted an unpleasant displaying in Cleveland following the Josh Dobbs commerce, he held his personal this summer time.
Arizona has moved on from its presumed backup for a second straight summer time. The staff lower Colt McCoy final 12 months, buying Dobbs by way of commerce and turning to him as a Week 1 starter regardless of a late-August arrival. The Cardinals traded Dobbs to the all of a sudden QB-needy Vikings on the deadline, shifting Tune up the depth chart. Tune threw an interception in opposition to the Broncos on Sunday, however the Playing cards’ workers feels comfy sufficient to maneuver on from a notable commerce addition.
The Falcons showed surprising confidence in Ridder last year, proclaiming the Cincinnati alum their starter months before training camp. Ridder had replaced Marcus Mariota late final 12 months, and Arthur Clean expressed curiosity in building around his rookie contract. After Ridder completed with a 12-12 TD-INT ratio and ranked twenty sixth in QBR, the Falcons returned to the high-priced QB enterprise by paying Cousins hours into the authorized tampering interval. They traded Ridder later that week.
A staff claiming Ridder would have him on a $985K base wage. If unclaimed by Wednesday’s deadline, the 2022 No. 74 total choose will make a stunning voyage into free company.