Former Las Vegas Raiders starter is being given a chance at new life in the NFL but with an AFC West rival
Last season was not a pretty one for the Las Vegas Raiders at all, but especially not on the offensive side of the ball. If anything, last season showed that the Raiders had to go get a quarterback this offseason. Luckily for the Raiders and their fan base, this new regime went out and got […]
Last season was not a pretty one for the Las Vegas Raiders at all, but especially not on the offensive side of the ball. If anything, last season showed that the Raiders had to go get a quarterback this offseason.
Luckily for the Raiders and their fan base, this new regime went out and got Geno Smith, the former Seattle Seahawks QB. If not, we may have been talking about the team running it back with three QBs, all whom were bad at times last year.
One of those guys is getting another chance, though.
Former Raiders QB Desmond Ridder to try out with Broncos
Desmond Ridder was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft after a successful college career at the University of Cincinnati. He began his rookie year as a backup to Marcus Mariota but started the last four games of the season. During those games, he passed for 708 yards, threw two touchdowns without any interceptions, and secured wins against the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2023, Ridder started 13 of 15 games for the Falcons, completing 64.2% of his passes for 2,836 yards, with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also contributed 193 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. His standout performance came in a win against the Houston Texans, where he threw for 329 yards and a touchdown. However, inconsistency, particularly in the red zone, led to him being benched twice. In 2024, he was on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad before joining the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders signed Ridder because of the injuries to both Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell. They needed someone as a backup, and even a starter, who had game experience, as Carter Bradley, the third-string QB at the time, did not. And, why not get someone who has shown some flashes here and there?
With the Raiders, Ridder appeared in six games, starting one against the Falcons, where he threw for 208 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a loss. For the 2024 season, he recorded 458 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Raiders did not re-sign him in 2025, leaving him as a free agent. Ridder’s career stats include 4,002 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and 293 rushing yards with five rushing touchdowns across 25 games.
Ridder wasn't great during his time with the Raiders, but anytime you saw someone talking to him, you could tell how much it meant to him to continue to get these chances. Now, you're just waiting for something to happen. Ridder deserves a shot, at least, it's just that now it's coming from the Raiders' biggest rival.
Las Vegas Raiders rookie is trying to tell the world why one perception of him is completely wrong
The Raiders will need him to prove it.
