Takeaways From Cardinals Trade With Falcons

The Arizona Cardinals made a rare player-for-player swap with the Atlanta Falcons. Here's our immediate reaction.

ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly sending WR Rondale Moore to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for QB Desmond Ridder. 

It's a rare player-for-player swap in an NFL trade, though it could be beneficial for both sides.

Here's what we learned:

1. It's Greg Dortch Time 

Cardinals fans - it's time.

The Red Sea has long awaited the opportunity for Dortch to emerge as a full-time starter in Arizona. His size keeps him mostly relegated to slot duties, where Moore anchored the position since arriving as a second-round pick. 

Dortch's production - when given the opportunity - has been mostly stellar, and it's apparent the Cardinals believe in him as a full-time player moving forward. 

He's fast. He's reliable. He's a grinder. Excited for Dortch to get this opportunity. 

2. Rondale Moore's Change of Scenery 

Sometimes, you just need a change of scenery. 

Moore was explosive and a deep threat during his college days at Purdue, and when Arizona nabbed him as a second-round pick, the Cardinals thought they were getting a home-run hitter. 

More times than not, Moore never got to show the ability to take the top off a defense, as Kliff Kingsbury never really utilized him vertically and Drew Petzing toyed with him in more of a gadget role - which included more than a few reps lineup at running back out of shotgun. 

It's safe to say Moore's time in the desert simply didn't work out, but the potential is still clearly there. Perhaps he'll thrive in a new offensive in Atlanta. 

3. Cardinals Weren't Comfortable With Clayton Tune

Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals saw one glimpse of Clayton Tune in a thrashing from the Cleveland Browns in 2023. The rookie's lone start was set up to doom him from the beginning for a few reasons, and Tune never really got the chance to show improvement after Kyler Murray returned. 

Yet it's clear Arizona wasn't content with Tune behind Murray, and in a league where backup quarterbacks are rising in value, the Cardinals felt like they needed a better option if needed. 

Insert Ridder, who has several games worth of starting experience with Atlanta and has good tape (to go along with bad).

There's a reason the Falcons decided to move on from Ridder, though the Cardinals were clearly willing to open the door for his arrival to mold him into the secondary passer behind Murray. 

That's not shot at Tune - at least from this perspective - though he did struggle with progressing through reads in preseason action despite having ideal size and the ability to move. 

Arizona saw Tune in preseason action and made the move for Josh Dobbs. They saw Tune after one season and made the move for Ridder. 

That's pretty telling.