Packers Dump Ex-Vikings QB from Roster

The Green Bay Packers signed Tyrod Taylor on Monday, signaling the exit of former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Desmond Ridder. Ridder will now hit free agency and hope for a QB3 or practice squad job somewhere around the league.

Ridder’s Green Bay stay ended quickly, leaving his next NFL stop unclear.

Matt LaFleur’s team chose Taylor as the best QB2 choice to navigate life after Malik Willis, who is now the QB1 for the Miami Dolphins.

Taylor Addition Changes Green Bay’s QB Room

Where will Ridder land?

Ridder Gets the Ax from GB

It’s unemployment once again for Ridder, as NBC Sports‘ 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 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 — a record that largely aligns with his player profile.

He possesses mobility and isn’t afraid of contact, offering an offense some flexibility. However, defenses aren’t primarily focused on containing Ridder’s 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 — given a strong run game, a solid offensive line, and well-performing skill players — it’s 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:

• Atlanta Falcons (2022–2023)
• Arizona Cardinals (2024)
• Las Vegas Raiders (2024)
• Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
• Minnesota Vikings (2025)
• Green Bay Packers (2025)

Rolling with Taylor

The Packers needed a new QB2 after Willis departed in March. Willis headed to Miami, following familiar Green Bay faces: Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Dolphins’ new general manager, and Jeff Hafley, Miami’s next head coach.

After a standout 2025 season — where he even ranked No. 1 in EPA/Play — Willis sought a legitimate chance at a starting quarterback gig. Green Bay couldn’t offer that with Love firmly entrenched, but Miami could.

It made the Packers’ 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.

Taylor is widely regarded as one of the league’s 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, Taylor’s recent performance metrics aren’t 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 Bay’s backup savior if Love goes down.

LaFleur said about the backup quarterback spot a week ago, “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 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, he’ll drift around the league, looking for employment, likely ending up on practice squads at the ripe old age of 26.

In fact, so long as he is in the league, Ridder will be a Vikings’ emergency option in the event injuries arise, as they did in 2023 and 2025.

Ridder will turn 27 at the end of August.