Desmond Ridder’s journey through the NFL has taken yet another turn, as he is set to join the Minnesota Vikings. According to reports from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the former Atlanta Falcons third-round pick will make his way north after a series of transitions this offseason. Ridder was not tendered as a restricted free agent by the Raiders and subsequently did not secure a spot with the Bengals after their roster cuts last month.
Ridder’s move to Minnesota comes in light of J.J. McCarthy’s recent ankle injury. This is an active-roster signing, which means Ridder will step in to support rookie UDFA Max Brosmer as they back up veteran quarterback Carson Wentz in Week 3. Earlier today, Ridder worked out with the Vikings alongside Dorian Thompson-Robinson, showcasing the team’s need for depth at the quarterback position.
Since March 2024, Ridder has now been associated with five different teams. His journey began when the Falcons traded him to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore. However, Arizona waived Ridder, who had been the primary starter for Atlanta in 2023, just a few months later. Following this, Ridder joined the Raiders off the Cardinals’ practice squad in late October and even made a start for Las Vegas. Unfortunately for Ridder, the Raiders underwent another significant overhaul of their front office and coaching staff, leading to him being overlooked as a priority.
Ridder’s next move was to the Cincinnati Bengals, but he faced another setback as he did not make their 53-man roster out of training camp. Despite his experience with 18 NFL starts, Ridder’s position on the Vikings’ quarterback depth chart is unusual. With McCarthy recovering from his injury, Minnesota's healthy quarterback options will consist of a rookie UDFA and two recently acquired players. Notably, the Vikings signed Wentz on August 24 after trading Sam Howell to the Eagles, and Wentz is expected to take the starting role against the Bengals this week.
With McCarthy’s return still uncertain for Week 4, there is a possibility the Vikings may opt to hold him out until after their Week 6 bye. Upcoming challenges include matchups against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns in Weeks 4 and 5. Ridder’s performances as a starting quarterback have raised questions; during his time with the Falcons, he was benched on multiple occasions in favor of Taylor Heinicke. This decision came after Atlanta decided not to pursue a quarterback search, which would have included a potentially fruitless attempt to acquire the then-franchise-tagged Lamar Jackson.
In 2024, the Falcons made a significant move by offering Kirk Cousins a lucrative contract and drafting Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. The trade of Ridder for Moore occurred in the midst of this transition. As Ridder embarks on this new chapter with the Vikings, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if he can leverage this opportunity and carve out a more stable role in the NFL.
