The Green Bay Packers have released former Vikings quarterback Desmond Ridder after signing Tyrod Taylor. Ridder is now a free agent seeking a new opportunity in the NFL.
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder shares a pregame moment with a teammate during warmups, with Sep 24, 2023 placed at Ford Field in Detroit as players prepare for kickoff against the Lions, capturing a calm exchange before competition begins in a regular-season road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Ridder Gets the Ax from GB
Itâs unemployment once again for Ridder, as NBC Sportsâ Josh Alper wrote, âThe Packersâ move to sign Tyrod Taylor is going to cost another of the teamâs quarterbacks his spot on the 90-man roster in Green Bay. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the team will be releasing Desmond Ridder. Ridder joined the team last December and did not play in any games.â
âRidderâs departure will leave four quarterbacks on the roster. In addition to Taylor, they will have Jordan Love, Kyle McCord and rookie Kyron Drones. Ridder spent time with the Bengals and Vikings last year before finishing out the year with the Packers. His last regular season action came in six appearances for the Raiders in 2024 and the 2022 third-round pick made 17 starts for the Falcons in his first two NFL seasons.â
Taylor ranked near the bottom of the NFL per efficiency in 2025, so Packers fans will hope that a geographical cure makes a difference.
The NFL Resume for Ridder
Ridder has 18 NFL starts with Atlanta and Las Vegas, where his teams went 8-10 â a record that largely aligns with his player profile.
He possesses mobility and isnât afraid of contact, offering an offense some flexibility. However, defenses arenât primarily focused on containing Ridderâs running.
His passing game metrics are equally telling: 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and roughly 160 passing yards per game. While this output can keep an offense somewhat afloat â given a strong run game, a solid offensive line, and well-performing skill players â itâs unlikely to elevate an offense significantly on its own.
Perhaps Ridder will eventually settle into a long-term role as a QB3. For now, however, 2026 is trending as an anonymous year.
His list of destinations since turning pro in 2022:
The Packers needed a new QB2 after Willis departed in March. Willis headed to Miami, following familiar Green Bay faces: Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Dolphinsâ new general manager, and Jeff Hafley, Miamiâs next head coach.
After a standout 2025 season â where he even ranked No. 1 in EPA/Play â Willis sought a legitimate chance at a starting quarterback gig. Green Bay couldnât offer that with Love firmly entrenched, but Miami could.
It made the Packersâ subsequent move straightforward. With Love missing games in the last two seasons, Green Bay required an experienced backup. In a division where quarterback stability is paramount, securing a solid backup was crucial. The NFC North no longer has weak teams. Enter Taylor.
Tyrod Taylor throws a pass during a game at NRG Stadium. Desmond Ridder.
Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor drops back to pass during early game action, with Dec 5, 2021 centered at NRG Stadium in Houston as he delivers a throw in the first quarter against the Colts, showing pocket presence and decision-making in a divisional matchup during the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Taylor is widely regarded as one of the leagueâs steadier backup quarterbacks. While he may not offer the same flash as Willis, he provides Green Bay a reliable safety net should Love miss time again.
However, Taylorâs recent performance metrics arenât stellar. In 2025, he ranked 34th out of 43 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA/Play (minimum 180 dropbacks). His 2023 season with the Giants saw him place 26th among 40 passers in EPA/Play over 244 dropbacks.
Ultimately, the Packers opted for reliability over potential. Willis is gone, and Taylor is now Green Bayâs backup savior if Love goes down.
LaFleur said about the backup quarterback spot a week ago, âI think we all know how we felt about Malik and his ability to go out there and give us a chance to go win games, and he did exactly that, so I think itâs a work in progress. I donât want to speak too early.â
âWeâve only done classroom work with these guys. We had a limited exposure to Desmond last year. But what I can say is those guys are doing a great job in the meetings, and weâre looking forward to getting our hands on them as we progress into Phase Two.â
The Future for Ridder
As for Ridder, his career has sputtered. No team will give him a look as a QB1, and in Minnesota, he resided as the QB3-QB4. His days as a starter are kaput. Indefinitely, heâll drift around the league, looking for employment, likely ending up on practice squads at the ripe old age of 26.
Aaron Rodgers and Desmond Ridder chat after a game at Croke Park in Dublin
Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Desmond Ridder meet following international play, with Sep 28, 2025 set at Croke Park in Dublin as the two exchange words after a Steelers and Vikings matchup, capturing a rare overseas postgame interaction between veteran experience and a younger passer seeking long-term footing. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In fact, so long as he is in the league, Ridder will be a Vikingsâ emergency option in the event injuries arise, as they did in 2023 and 2025.
