Falcon Report

With Training Camp Looming, Why Hasn't Falcons QB Desmond Ridder Signed?

Ridder is the only Falcons rookie yet to sign.

Jeremy Brener

While the Atlanta Falcons rookie class reports to training camp this week, one player will do so without a signed contract.

And he's arguably the most important Falcons rookie of them all.

Quarterback Desmond Ridder has still yet to sign his rookie contract, which may alert some fans as he competes for the starting job against veteran Marcus Mariota. However, there isn't any reported issues on contract negotiations.

In fact, Ridder isn't the only rookie quarterback in the league without a contract. Carolina Panthers rookie Matt Corral and Tennessee Titans signal-caller Malik Willis have also yet to put pen to paper with their respective teams.

Given the fact that only one quarterback was taken in the first two rounds for the first time since 2000, it's possible that the top quarterbacks in the draft want different contract standards than what a lineman or different position would expect to receive in their draft spot.

Despite being the second quarterback drafted, Ridder is expected to make a lot less than what last year's second quarterback, former New York Jets No. 2 pick Zach Wilson, is making on his deal.

Contracts are often based on where you are drafted, but quarterbacks are often an outlier in this situation.

According to Spotrac, Ridder is projected to make $5,362,959 over four years with a signing bonus of $1,080,334 and a cap hit in 2022 worth $975,083.

For someone looking to win the starting job out of training camp, it would be a surprise if Ridder didn't agree to a contract soon and a shock if he didn't report. 

Fret not, Falcons fans.

Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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