With Kirk Cousins coming in as the unquestioned Falcons starting quarterback, the workforce’s earlier choice is probably going on his means out. After two seasons, the Falcons are making ready to commerce Desmond Ridder, WSB’s Zach Klein reports.
No deal is imminent, however ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adds the Falcons have been discussing Ridder with different groups and a commerce is anticipated. Two seasons stay on the previous third-round decide’s rookie contract.
Massive-ticket QB additions usually result in the predecessor being shipped out. The Vikings let Case Keenum stroll once they signed Cousins in 2018, whereas the Browns dealt Baker Mayfield months after buying Deshaun Watson — edging out the Falcons in these sweepstakes — two years in the past. The Buccaneers didn’t set up Jameis Winston as Tom Brady‘s backup. The Jets didn’t commerce Zach Wilson final 12 months, and so they regretted it. Though Ridder would profile as a participant who might slide right into a backup function — his major 2022 slot — the Falcons might have decided there may be sufficient of a market to maneuver him now.
The Raiders and Vikings acquired bridge starters, in Gardner Minshew and Sam Darnold, whereas the Steelers picked up Russell Wilson on a budget. This would depart the Broncos as a doubtlessly occasion, with solely Jarrett Stidham below contract for 2024. However Ridder additionally would profile as a backup elsewhere.
The Falcons’ Cousins pursuit introduced an about-face from the workforce. In explaining why the workforce was not all for Lamar Jackson final 12 months, Arthur Clean stated he needed to build a roster around a rookie contract at quarterback. At that time, Ridder served as that passer. The workforce anointed the Cincinnati alum early in the course of the 2023 offseason and used him as a starter for a lot of the season. However Arthur Smith benched Ridder on a number of events, transferring Taylor Heinicke into motion. Heinicke’s two-year, $14M deal stays on Atlanta’s roster; it might appear the Falcons don’t need each of them again.
Ridder ranked twenty sixth in QBR final season, ending with a 12-12 TD-INT ratio and a 7.3 yards-per-attempt quantity. The Falcons gave Ridder 17 whole begins. Popping out of this season, phrase instantly surfaced the Falcons had been aiming to improve at QB. Enter Cousins and one other large contract. His rookie deal requires $985K and $1.1M base salaries over the following two seasons.