The Denver Broncos needed at least one quarterback to throw passes during their rookie minicamp; none of the three quarterbacks under contract on their roster were eligible.
Enter Desmond Ridder, a 2022 draft pick last seen by the Broncos in Week 12 last year desperately trying to bring the Las Vegas Raiders back in what would be a 29-19 Denver win at Allegiant Stadium.
Unsigned since hitting the open market in March after being non-tendered by the Raiders as a potential restricted free agent, Ridder will take part in Denver’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis over the weekend. KUSA-Ch. 9’s Mike Klis was first to report the move.
A 2022 third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, Ridder has made 18 starts in three seasons, posting an 82.6 passer rating with 16 career touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. Thirteen of his starts came in the 2023 season, when he was Atlanta’s Week 1 starter and held the position for most of the season.
Ridder finished 26th among 30 eligible QBs in ESPN QBR, 25th in EPA/play, 24th in passer rating and 21st in CPOE (completion percentage over expected). Atlanta subsequently traded Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason; the Cardinals waived Ridder at the roster deadline last August after he lost a backup battle, which saw its culmination in a preseason finale against the Broncos.
Arizona brought Ridder back on its practice squad, from which the Raiders signed him in last October.
Ridder started one game for Las Vegas — coincidentally, against the team that drafted him. He went 23-for-39 for 208 yards with a touchdown pass and two interceptions in a 15-9 Raiders defeat.
RIDDER WONT’T BE THE ONLY QB AT BRONCOS ROOKIE MINICAMP
Ridder will be one of two quarterbacks receiving a tryout at Broncos rookie minicamp; former Princeton passer Blake Stenstrom is the other.
Stenstrom, who grew up in Highlands Ranch, transferred to Princeton from CU and is a product of Valor Christian H.S. He started two seasons at Princeton and threw for 5,036 yards with 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, averaging 201.4 passing yards per game.
