Desmond Ridder’s attempt to secure a spot with a new NFL team seems to be falling short. The Arizona Cardinals are releasing Ridder after he lost the backup quarterback position to Clayton Tune, as reported by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Tune, a fifth-round draft pick by the Cardinals last year, had the edge in the competition due to his familiarity with the team, having spent the entire season with them and even making one start in seven appearances. Ridder, a third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, had a promising start to his career with four rookie season starts and 13 the following year. Over his 19 games with the Falcons, he threw for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
As Ridder turns 25 on August 31, his experience could still make him an appealing option for another team’s practice squad, or potentially even a return to the Cardinals in a different capacity.