Mon, May 4, 2026 at 7:22 PM UTC
The Green Bay Packers are releasing former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Monday afternoon. The Packers have agreed to terms with veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor and will release Ridder in a corresponding move.
Taylor is expected to replace Malik Willis as Jordan Love’s backup this season. The Dolphins signed Willis in NFL free agency after releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Atlanta has since signed Tagovailoa to a one-year $1.2 million contract.
With Taylor in the picture, Green Bay had no reason to keep Ridder on the roster. The former third-round pick is headed for free agency once again and will be free to sign with any team.
The Falcons originally drafted Ridder with the 74th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.The former Cincinnati standout spent his first two seasons in Atlanta, passing for 3,544 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over 19 games (17 starts).
After signing Kirk Cousins and drafting Michael Penix Jr. in 2024, the Falcons traded Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals. However, Ridder didn’t make the roster out of training camp and was later signed by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Since then, Ridder has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals and the Green Bay Packers. We’ll have to wait and see where the former Falcons QB goes next.
Ridder is still just 26 years old and should be able to catch on somewhere as a backup this season.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Former Falcons QB Desmond Ridder released by Packers