Cardinals Release Former College Football Star QB in Roster Move

Former Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder has been released by the Arizona Cardinals in a surprising move by the team.

Ridder was in competition with Clayton Tune for the backup quarterback position behind Kyler Murray but appears to have lost the battle.

Ridder was traded to Arizona by the Atlanta Falcons after the team signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to be their starting quarterback. The Falcons sent Ridder to the Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore.

Although Ridder's professional career hasn't quite mirrored his college success, he was a standout during his days at Cincinnati.

After redshirting his freshman year, Ridder experienced tremendous success with the Bearcats, finishing his collegiate career with a remarkable 42-6 record.

He accounted for 115 total touchdowns and only 28 interceptions.

In 2021, he led the Bearcats to become the first Group of Five team to make the College Football Playoffs, before falling to the Alabama Crimson Tide 27-6 in the semifinals.

This impressive performance led to his selection by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Ridder's NFL career, while not spectacular, has shown flashes of potential.

During his two years in Atlanta, he accounted for 19 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions, leading the Falcons to an 8-9 record in his 17 career starts.

At just 25 years old, Ridder still has time to develop, and his best football could potentially be ahead of him. It wouldn’t be surprising to see another team take a chance on the former third-round pick, whether as a starter or a backup option.

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