Atlanta and Arizona completed a straight player-for-player…
Atlanta and Arizona completed a straight player-for-player swap, with the Falcons receiving Rondale Moore and the Cardinals receiving Desmond Ridder. Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury before playing a regular-season snap for Atlanta, while Ridder lost Arizona's backup-quarterback competition and was later signed away from the Cardinals' practice squad. Neither original club received meaningful regular-season production, leaving the trade essentially even.
Arizona Cardinals Received
- player Desmond Ridder
Atlanta Falcons Received
- player Rondale Moore
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Atlanta sent quarterback Desmond Ridder to Arizona for wide receiver Rondale Moore on March 14, 2024. The Falcons had just added Kirk Cousins and wanted more speed at receiver, while the Cardinals wanted an experienced quarterback to compete with Clayton Tune for the backup job behind Kyler Murray. No draft picks were involved, making this a direct attempt to give two young players a better roster fit.
How the Value Developed
Neither side received the hoped-for result. Moore was earning a larger role during Falcons training camp before suffering a serious knee injury in a joint practice, and Atlanta placed him on season-ending injured reserve before he could play a regular-season snap. Ridder competed for Arizona's No. 2 quarterback job but Tune won the position. Ridder went to the practice squad and was later signed by Las Vegas, ending his Cardinals tenure without becoming their regular-season solution.
Why This Remains Even
Injuries make the Atlanta side especially difficult to treat as a personnel mistake. The Falcons never had the chance to see whether Moore's speed and versatility would translate in their offense. Arizona's result was disappointing in a different way: Ridder was healthy enough to compete but did not secure the intended backup role. Still, the Cardinals gave up a player who also produced no regular-season value for Atlanta, so neither club surrendered a meaningful realized asset in exchange for the failed outcome.
Final Verdict
The trade remains Even, with both teams at C-. Arizona did not get the backup quarterback it sought, and Atlanta did not get a usable season from Moore. The low grades reflect the absence of realized value rather than an assertion that either front office made an obviously poor decision at the time.