Desmond Ridder stands on the brink of a fresh opportunity. The free-agent quarterback will showcase his skills at the Denver Broncos' rookie minicamp this weekend, as reported by Mike Klis of 9News.
Currently, the Broncos' quarterback lineup includes Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger, with Bo Nix holding the starting position. Yet, Ridder adds an intriguing element to the mix as he looks to make a compelling case for himself.
Ridder's path to this point has been winding. He entered free agency in March after the Las Vegas Raiders opted not to tender him as a restricted free agent. Before that, Ridder was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round in 2022, but was subsequently traded to the Arizona Cardinals. His journey took another turn when the Raiders picked him up from Arizona’s practice squad in October, following Aidan O’Connell's stint on injured reserve and Gardner Minshew's season-ending injury.
Last season, Ridder made headlines with a starting appearance in Week 15 against his former team, the Falcons, and participated in five other games. His performance was a mixed bag: he achieved a 52-of-85 passing record, accumulating 458 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Throughout his NFL tenure, Ridder has started 18 games, including 13 with the Falcons in 2023, amassing 16 touchdowns against 14 interceptions.
As Ridder eyes this weekend’s opportunity, he aims to seize the moment and carve out a new chapter in his professional football journey.
