Bengals fill their last roster spot with a hometown college hero who was originally recruited by Zac Taylor

Ridder was drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by Atlanta and emerged as the starter during the final four games of his rookie season. The Falcons gave him the keys for most of the 2023 season, but was traded to the Arizona Cardinals the following March. Arizona released him during final cuts, but signed him to the practice squad. Las Vegas signed him to the active roster leading up to Week 8.

The Raiders played Ridder for the first time last season against Cincinnati. He completed 11 of 16 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown after coming off the bench, but the Bengals won 41-24. He would go on to play in three more games, including one start.

Ridder's NFL career has been underwhelming, but Cincinnati fans know him best for what he did before jumping to the professional level. The Louisville, KY native started as the University of Cincinnati's QB from 2018-21 after he redshirted in 2017. 

The main reason why he became a Bearcat is probably why he's coming back in the Queen City. 

Desmond Ridder's connection to Zac Taylor

Ridder was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in 2017. He originally committed to UC in 2016, the year current Bengals head coach Zac Taylor spent as the Bearcats' offensive coordinator.

Taylor was Ridder's main recruiter alongside former assistant Blake Rolan.

"We had a quick workout," Ridder recalled of Taylor back in 2021. "We had never met before, me and Coach Taylor, but I kind of just clicked with him off the bat. I liked who he was, just who I saw in that quick 30 minutes. We connected and chatted a little bit.

"He liked everything that he saw from me and believed in me." 

Ridder really started blossoming that year, which was his last on campus. The Bearcats became the first and only Group of Five program to ever make the four-team College Football Playoff. 

Taylor witnessed it a few miles south toward the Ohio River while his Bengals were on their way to a Super Bowl appearance. He never coached Ridder as he left to become the Los Angeles Rams' assistant wide receivers coach before Ridder even enrolled.

Eight years later, he'll finally get a chance to coach him for real. 

Why the Bengals are signing Ridder

Beyond the connection with the head coach, Ridder appears to be entering a battle to become Joe Burrow's backup.

That title has belonged to Jake Browning for the past two years. Browning made a name for himself playing for an injured Burrow late in 2023 and earned a two-year contract to stay in Cincinnati the following offseason. That contract expires at the end of this season.

Logan Woodside and rookie undrafted free agent Payton Thorne make up the rest of the now five-player QB room at Paycor Stadium. That's a good amount of arms behind Burrow as training camp is set to begin Wednesday, July 23.   

Ridder will officially be the 91st player on the Bengals' roster. They're allowed a roster exemption for defensive tackle Dante Barnett, who's part of the International Player Pathway program.