The Atlanta Falcons made sweeping changes to their quarterback room during the 2024 offseason. That included the jettisoning of their 2022 third-round pick, Desmond Ridder.
The Cincinnati product has been shipped to the Arizona Cardinals in a deal that brought a solid slot receiver to the NFC South.
Desmond Ridder Trade Details
The Falcons and Cardinals agreed to terms on the deal that swapped offensive players on March 14th.
The full details of the trade are below.
The Falcons received:
The Cardinals received:
- QB Desmond Ridder
Players Involved in the Ridder Trade
The Falcons moved quickly to trade Ridder after locking up quarterback Kirk Cousins on a four-year, $180 million deal at the open of free agency. By acquiring slot receiver Rondale Moore, Atlanta adds a solid pass catcher to pair with young players like Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
In three seasons with the Cardinals, Moore caught 135 passes for 1,201 yards, and three touchdowns. His best year was his rookie 2021 campaign, when he caught 58 catches and is a solid slot receiver overall throughout his career.
The Cardinals also moved on from Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, but in Ridder, they brought in a veteran backup quarterback to learn behind Kyler Murray in their offense.
Murray hasn’t played a full season due to injuries over the last three seasons, so having a player like Ridder could be helpful overall. Arizona drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and also added Zay Jones in free agency.
In two seasons with Atlanta, Ridder went 8-9 as a starter while throwing for 14 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.
There were no additional players or added draft picks as part of the deal. We may not see Ridder on the field this season, but Moore’s presence should be helpful to Atlanta.
Who Won the Ridder Trade?
With the arrival of Cousins in Atlanta and the selection of Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, Ridder was the odd man out from the very beginning of the Falcons’ offseason.
It’s what makes their acquisition of Moore in this trade a win for the franchise over a rebuilding team like the Cardinals.
For one thing, Ridder is only going to be the backup quarterback for Arizona behind Murray. Arizona’s franchise quarterback may have had some injury concerns in the past, but the talent level around the Cardinals isn’t enough to enhance Ridder’s overall skill set.
Moore, on the other hand, is expected to be Atlanta’s primary slot receiver. Moore’s numbers have never been outstanding, but with Cousins now the starting quarterback, the expectation is that he can provide immediate help for the offense.
It’s why the Falcons have come away with a clear victory in this deal.