In a surprising turn of events, Desmond Ridder, once hailed as a promising NFL starting quarterback, has been waived by the Arizona Cardinals, as reported by NFL Media. The Cardinals, who traded for Ridder earlier this offseason, have opted to make Clayton Tune their backup for star quarterback Kyler Murray. Tune, who appeared in seven games last season as a rookie, struggled with a low passer rating of 22.6.

Ridder, hopeful after a strong finish to his rookie season in 2022, faced a tumultuous year with the Atlanta Falcons. He was benched twice during the season and only managed to record 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his 13 starts. With the Falcons moving on and signing Kirk Cousins, Ridder was traded to the Cardinals in exchange for receiver Rondale Moore. Unfortunately, the trade seemed star-crossed, as Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury during a practice.

During the preseason, Ridder showcased his skills in all three games, completing 20-of-35 passes without throwing any interceptions or touchdowns. However, his performance was not deemed sufficient to secure a spot on the Cardinals' roster.

The released Ridder now joins a growing list of quarterbacks from the 2022 NFL Draft class facing setbacks. Kenny Pickett, the sole first-round pick in that class, was traded earlier this offseason, while Ridder and Malik Willis, the second and third quarterbacks taken respectively, have also been traded. Interestingly, the only successful quarterback from the entire class has been Brock Purdy, the final pick.

At 25 years old, Ridder possesses a third-round draft pedigree and has demonstrated flashes of potential in the NFL. Despite this setback, he is expected to be given another chance in the league. If he signs with a new team, it will mark Ridder's third team in 2024, highlighting the challenging journey he has faced thus far.