The Raiders are in a free fall, sitting at 2-9 with the kind of season that makes you cringe. Even if they win the rest of the season (and let’s be real, that’s a big if), a losing record is inevitable. From Davante Adams’ headline-making exit to Antonio Pierce’s off-field NCAA baggage, Vegas feels more like a soap opera than a football team right now. And if that wasn’t enough, Gardner Minshew’s late-game injury in week 12 opened the door for Desmond Ridder. Could this be Ridder’s chance to climb out of the backup shadows? Maybe—but he’s no sure bet.

Ridder’s stint against the Broncos wasn’t exactly: WOW! Taking over with under three minutes to play and the Raiders down 26-19, Ridder had a golden opportunity to make a splash. Instead, two plays in, he was strip-sacked; the Broncos padded their lead, and that was all he wrote. His stat line—5-of-10 for 64 yards and a brutal 3.8 QB rating—didn’t exactly scream, “I’m the guy!”

But hey, every quarterback has to start somewhere, right? And Ridder, who once lit up college football with the Cincinnati Bearcats, is no stranger to proving doubters wrong. Let’s not forget, Ridder’s on a one-year, $985,000 deal, making him a low-risk gamble for Vegas. He may not be the premium option.

But he could bring that elusive “value for money” factor. For a team in shambles, it’s not about finding the perfect piece—it’s about finding something that works. What’s next for Vegas under center? It’s a toss-up between Ridder and Aidan O’Connell.

Can Desmond Ridder be the guy for the Raiders?

Desmond Ridder is like that wildcard quarterback card you pull from the deck—flashes of brilliance mixed with moments you’d rather forget. Take his 11-for-16 game against the Bengals earlier this month: efficient, composed, and promising. But then, there’s the inconsistency—turnovers and missed opportunities that make you wonder if he’s ready for prime time. But if not him, then who? His competition is Aidan O’Connell. Uh-Oh! Yeah, and these are not options you can hope to win the playoffs with.

And out of these two, Ridder does put a stronger case. He’s not been a journeyman en route to pro-life. But his fall needs to be studied… I mean, the guy who was talked about with Kenny Pickett during the 2022 draft slipped to the third round, landing with the Falcons at 74th overall. That slip and slide cost him big time ($5.4 million contract wasn’t even a fraction of the payday he might’ve had). His dual-threat potential felt under-used. I mean, practice squad life isn’t what dreams are made of.

Fast forward to 2024: Ridder’s now wearing silver and black, brought in as a Band-Aid for a Raiders QB room riddled with injuries. He’s got the tools, but 12 is the trouble number for him and the team. Twelve picks and twelve fumbles in 2023? Yeah, they don’t scream “franchise QB.” But, for now, there’s not much Vegas can do but hope Coach Pierce sees something in him that is not quite visible.