Sean Payton is the type of head coach that will do whatever it takes to make his roster even an tad bit better than it already it. And, he will utilize every possible strategy he can, including bringing a veteran player to the Denver Broncos' rookie minicamp tryouts.
The Broncos don't need a quarterback, as they have Bo Nix, who just had an incredible rookie season, proving he's the franchise guy for years and years to come. But, why not try and make the QB room as good as possible in case Nix ever gets hurt?
They signed Jarrett Stidham to a new two-year contract this offseason, and have Sam Ehlinger as the third-stringer. So, why would they not want to bring someone in for a tryout to see if he could be better than Ehlinger?
They have done just that. On Tuesday, the Broncos invited former Las Vegas Raiders QB Desmond Ridder to a rookie minicamp tryout.
Broncos invite Desmond Ridder to rookie minicamp
Desmond Ridder was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft after a strong college career at the University of Cincinnati. He started as a backup to Marcus Mariota but took over as the starting quarterback for the final four games of his rookie season. In those games, he threw for 708 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, with a win against the Arizona Cardinals and a solid performance in a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2023, Ridder started 13 of 15 games for the Falcons, completing 64.2% of his passes for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also ran for 193 yards and five touchdowns. His best game was a 329-yard, one-touchdown performance in a win over the Houston Texans. However, he struggled with consistency, especially in the red zone, and was benched twice during the season. Last season he was on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders.
With the Raiders, he played in six games, starting one against the Falcons, where he threw for 208 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a loss. For the season, he had 458 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Raiders did not re-sign him in 2025, making him a free agent. Ridder’s career totals include 4,002 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and 293 rushing yards with five rushing touchdowns in 25 games.
There's no promise that he will make the team, or even the practice squad, but the Broncos are giving him a shot.
More must-reads: