Aug 24, 2024; Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Basic view of Inexperienced Bay Packers helmets throughout warmups previous to the sport in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Subject. Obligatory Credit score: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports activities
The Inexperienced Bay Packers signed Tyrod Taylor on Monday, signaling the exit of former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Desmond Ridder. Ridder will now hit free company and hope for a QB3 or follow squad job someplace across the league.
Ridder’s Inexperienced Bay keep ended rapidly, leaving his subsequent NFL cease unclear.
Matt LaFleur’s group selected Taylor as one of the best QB2 option to navigate life after Malik Willis, who’s now the QB1 for the Miami Dolphins.
Taylor Addition Modifications Inexperienced Bay’s QB Room
The place will Ridder land?
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder shares a pregame second with a teammate throughout warmups, with Sep 24, 2023 positioned at Ford Subject in Detroit as gamers put together for kickoff in opposition to the Lions, capturing a peaceful change earlier than competitors begins in a regular-season highway matchup. Obligatory Credit score: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports activities
Ridder Will get the Ax from GB
It’s unemployment as soon as once more for Ridder, as NBC Sports activities‘ Josh Alper wrote, “The Packers’ move to sign Tyrod Taylor is going to cost another of the team’s 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.”
“Ridder’s 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.”
Taylor ranked close to the underside of the NFL per effectivity in 2025, so Packers followers will hope {that a} geographical treatment makes a distinction.
The NFL Resume for Ridder
Ridder has 18 NFL begins with Atlanta and Las Vegas, the place his groups went 8-10 — a file that largely aligns together with his participant profile.
He possesses mobility and isn’t afraid of contact, providing an offense some flexibility. Nevertheless, defenses aren’t primarily centered on containing Ridder’s working.
His passing sport metrics are equally telling: 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and roughly 160 passing yards per sport. Whereas this output can maintain an offense considerably afloat — given a robust run sport, a strong offensive line, and well-performing talent gamers — it’s unlikely to raise an offense considerably by itself.
Maybe Ridder will ultimately settle right into a long-term function as a QB3. For now, nevertheless, 2026 is trending as an nameless yr.
His checklist of locations since turning professional in 2022:
Atlanta Falcons (2022–2023)
Arizona Cardinals (2024)
Las Vegas Raiders (2024)
Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
Minnesota Vikings (2025)
Inexperienced Bay Packers (2025)
Rolling with Taylor
The Packers wanted a brand new QB2 after Willis departed in March. Willis headed to Miami, following acquainted Inexperienced Bay faces: Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Dolphins’ new basic supervisor, and Jeff Hafley, Miami’s subsequent head coach.
After a standout 2025 season — the place he even ranked No. 1 in EPA/Play — Willis sought a reputable probability at a beginning quarterback gig. Inexperienced Bay couldn’t supply that with Love firmly entrenched, however Miami might.
It made the Packers’ subsequent transfer simple. With Love lacking video games within the final two seasons, Inexperienced Bay required an skilled backup. In a division the place quarterback stability is paramount, securing a strong backup was essential. The NFC North now not has weak groups. Enter Taylor.
Houston Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor drops again to go throughout early sport motion, with Dec 5, 2021 centered at NRG Stadium in Houston as he delivers a throw within the first quarter in opposition to the Colts, displaying pocket presence and decision-making in a divisional matchup throughout the common season. Obligatory Credit score: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports activities
Taylor is broadly thought to be one of many league’s steadier backup quarterbacks. Whereas he could not supply the identical flash as Willis, he supplies Inexperienced Bay a dependable security internet ought to Love miss time once more.
Nevertheless, Taylor’s current efficiency metrics aren’t stellar. In 2025, he ranked thirty fourth out of 43 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA/Play (minimal 180 dropbacks). His 2023 season with the Giants noticed him place twenty sixth amongst 40 passers in EPA/Play over 244 dropbacks.
In the end, the Packers opted for reliability over potential. Willis is gone, and Taylor is now Inexperienced Bay’s backup savior if Love goes down.
LaFleur mentioned concerning the backup quarterback spot every week in the past, “I 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 it’s a work in progress. I don’t want to speak too early.”
“We’ve 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 we’re looking forward to getting our hands on them as we progress into Phase Two.”
The Future for Ridder
As for Ridder, his profession has sputtered. No group will give him a glance as a QB1, and in Minnesota, he resided because the QB3-QB4. His days as a starter are kaput. Indefinitely, he’ll drift across the league, searching for employment, possible ending up on follow squads on the ripe outdated age of 26.
Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Desmond Ridder meet following worldwide play, with Sep 28, 2025 set at Croke Park in Dublin as the 2 change phrases after a Steelers and Vikings matchup, capturing a uncommon abroad postgame interplay between veteran expertise and a youthful passer in search of long-term footing. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures
In actual fact, as long as he’s within the league, Ridder will likely be a Vikings’ emergency possibility within the occasion accidents come up, as they did in 2023 and 2025.
Ridder will flip 27 on the finish of August.
