Jul 28, 2023; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge (12) catches a pass during training camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Falcons trade QB Desmond Ridder to Cardinals

With their new starter in place in Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons are trading quarterback Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals, per multiple reports Thursday.

The Falcons reportedly will receive receiver Rondale Moore in return.

Also Thursday, the team announced the re-signing of offensive lineman Storm Norton and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge to one-year deals.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the Falcons.

Atlanta selected Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the hopes he could replace Matt Ryan as its starting quarterback. But in two seasons, he had an 8-9 record in 17 starts (19 games) and completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 3,544 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Ridder, 24, had an up-and-down season in 2023, being replaced as the starter twice by Taylor Heinicke, only to return when Heinicke suffered injuries to a hamstring and ankle.

Kyler Murray returns as the starting quarterback for the Cardinals, who traded primary backup Joshua Dobbs to the Minnesota Vikings last Oct. 31.

Moore, 23, was the Cardinals’ second-round pick and No. 49 overall in 2021. He made a modest impact in his first three seasons, appearing in 39 games (23 starts) with 135 catches for 1,201 yards and three touchdowns. He gained a career-high 435 yards as a rookie.

Norton, 29, made three starts at right tackle and appeared in 14 games in his first season with Atlanta in 2023.

He has appeared in 50 games (21 starts) with the Minnesota Vikings (2018), Los Angeles Chargers (2020-22) and Falcons.

Hodge, 29, played in all 17 games (four starts) for the Falcons in 2023 and contributed 14 catches for 232 yards.

He has 57 receptions for 864 yards and one touchdown in 89 games (seven starts) with the Los Angeles Rams (2018), Cleveland Browns (2019-20), Detroit Lions (2021) and Falcons.

–Field Level Media

Sep 19, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, right, talks with defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr., left, during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. fired as Seahawks reset

Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. is out as the Seattle Seahawks begin a reset after missing the playoffs in 2021.

Head coach Pete Carroll said the Seahawks have the pieces in place to rebound and return to the playoffs next season, but admitted there were issues to address.

The first significant move of the offseason came Tuesday, when Norton and defensive passing game coordinator Andre Curtis were fired.

Seattle finished 7-10 and allowed 379.1 yards per game, which was 28th in the NFL.

Norton, 55, is a longtime Carroll ally after playing for the coach at Southern California and coaching under him for 15 of the past 18 years.

The Seahawks requested permission to speak with Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell for their position, per source. Donatell has served as a coordinator and a defensive backs coach at the pro and college levels since 1979.

Carroll himself was rumored to be on the hot seat, but the Seahawks did not make a change at the top as the offseason began.

The Seahawks also could address the offensive coordinator position. In his first season in that role, Shane Waldron produced uneven results and was a regular target of fan criticism.

–Field Level Media