Could Desmond Ridder Be the Packers’ Next Backup Quarterback Success Story?
As the Green Bay Packers head into a pivotal offseason, three position groups stand out as clear priorities: defensive line, cornerback, and offensive line. All three were sore spots in 2025, and if the Packers want to push deeper into the postseason, those areas need real upgrades. But there’s another position that shouldn't be overlooked - backup quarterback.
For the past two seasons, Green Bay had the luxury of arguably the league’s best backup in Malik Willis. But that chapter appears to be closing.
Willis is set to hit free agency and is expected to command a solid deal - likely from a team looking for a high-upside QB2 or even a bridge starter. That’s a credit to both Willis’ growth and the Packers’ ability to develop talent.
He arrived in Green Bay as a castoff from Tennessee and leaves as one of the more intriguing quarterback options on the market. That’s a win for both sides.
But now, the Packers need to find the next man up. And with Jordan Love having missed time in two of his three years as a starter - due to knee, groin, and concussion issues - the backup spot isn’t just a depth piece.
It’s a necessity. This team can’t afford to roll the dice with a developmental arm who isn’t ready.
They need someone who can step in and keep the ship afloat if Love is sidelined again.
Enter Desmond Ridder.
The Packers quietly signed Ridder to their active roster on New Year’s Eve, just ahead of their Wild Card matchup with Chicago. That deal includes the 2026 season, giving Green Bay a chance to see if they can do for Ridder what they did for Willis.
It’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward move - Ridder is set to make just over $1.1 million if he sticks around all year. For a team that values draft-and-develop but also knows the importance of veteran insurance at quarterback, this is a smart play.
Ridder, still only 26, was a third-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 - taken just a few spots ahead of Willis, in fact. He earned a starting role fairly quickly in Atlanta, logging 17 starts across the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
His time with the Falcons had its moments - including a win over the Packers in Week 2 of 2023 - but overall, the results were mixed. Once the Falcons brought in Kirk Cousins and a new coaching staff, Ridder was traded to Arizona.
From there, his career took a journeyman turn, with short stints in Las Vegas, Minnesota, and Cincinnati. He saw some action with the Raiders, appearing in six games and starting one, but didn’t take a snap in the regular season with the Vikings or Bengals.
Across his 25 career appearances, Ridder has completed 63.6% of his passes (374-for-588) for 4,002 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He’s also added 293 rushing yards and five scores on the ground. The raw numbers don’t jump off the page, but they do paint the picture of a quarterback with starting experience, mobility, and a decent arm - all traits that make him an intriguing backup option in the right system.
And that’s where Matt LaFleur comes in.
LaFleur helped reshape Willis’ game after he arrived in Green Bay, turning him from a struggling prospect into a viable NFL quarterback. Willis had the tools - arm strength, athleticism, mobility - but needed refinement.
Sound familiar? Ridder has a similar profile.
He was a two-time AAC Offensive Player of the Year at Cincinnati and led the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff. He’s got the arm.
He’s got the legs. He’s got the build - just an inch shorter and a few pounds lighter than Jordan Love.
Physically, he checks the boxes.
What’s held him back has been decision-making. In 2023, Ridder turned the ball over 12 times in 15 games.
That included a brutal three-game stretch with seven giveaways. For a young quarterback, you expect growing pains, but you also expect improvement.
That never really materialized in Atlanta, and his inability to stick as even a backup in multiple stops since then speaks volumes.
Still, the upside is there. And the Packers are betting that with a full offseason under LaFleur’s guidance - and with a better supporting cast than Ridder had in Atlanta or Vegas - he might finally turn the corner.
The comparison to Willis is fair: both were talented, toolsy quarterbacks who needed the right environment to thrive. Green Bay gave that to Willis.
Now Ridder gets his shot.
If it works out, it’s another example of GM Brian Gutekunst mining value where others see castoffs. And it’s more proof that Matt LaFleur knows how to get the most out of quarterbacks - even those who’ve been written off elsewhere.
Backup quarterback isn’t always the flashiest storyline in the offseason, but for a team with playoff aspirations and a starter who’s missed time, it’s critical. The Packers have seen firsthand how important that position can be. And if Ridder can follow the same arc as Willis, Green Bay might have found their next hidden gem.