Calvin Throckmorton

Calvin Throckmorton Bio

Calvin Throckmorton is an American professional football guard for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks from 2015 to 2019, and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2020. Throckmorton has developed into a versatile offensive lineman capable of playing multiple positions along the interior and exterior of the line. He has appeared in 58 NFL games with 27 starts across his career with the Saints, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, and Broncos. His professional journey reflects the perseverance common among undrafted players seeking to establish themselves in the league.

Early Life and Background

Calvin Throckmorton was born on August 16, 1996, in Bellevue, Washington. He grew up in the Seattle metropolitan area and attended Newport High School in Bellevue. During his high school career, Throckmorton played both offensive and defensive line for the Newport football team. His performance on the high school level earned him recognition as a three-star prospect by major recruiting services including Rivals, 247Sports, Scout, and ESPN.

Throckmorton received scholarship offers from multiple Division I programs, ultimately choosing to continue his football career at the University of Oregon over schools such as Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Michigan, and Miami. His decision to join the Oregon Ducks program set the foundation for his eventual transition to professional football.

Path to American Football

At Oregon, Throckmorton redshirted his true freshman season in 2015, using that year to develop physically and learn the college game. He emerged as a starter the following year, appearing in and starting all 12 games of Oregon’s 2016 season. His play earned him honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference recognition, establishing him as a fixture on the Ducks’ offensive line.

During his redshirt sophomore season in 2017, Throckmorton began the year as the starting right tackle for the first ten games before transitioning to right guard for the final three games of the season. This positional flexibility proved valuable, and he again received honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors. The experience of playing both tackle and guard positions would become a defining characteristic of his collegiate and professional career.

Throckmorton’s redshirt junior season in 2018 represented a breakthrough in his development. He became the only Football Bowl Subdivision player to make a start at four different offensive line positions that year, seeing action at right tackle, left tackle, right guard, and center while also taking snaps at left guard. Pro Football Focus graded him as the fourth-best offensive tackle in college football, and he earned second-team All-American honors from the Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele, and Pro Football Focus. The Associated Press also named him first-team All-Pac-12.

Calvin Throckmorton Career

New Orleans Saints Early Career (2020–2022)

Throckmorton went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft but was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020, shortly after the draft concluded. He was waived during the Saints’ final roster cuts on September 5 and signed to the practice squad the following day. Throckmorton spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad, refining his technique and adapting to the professional level.

On January 18, 2021, Throckmorton signed a reserve/futures contract with the Saints, securing his place on the roster for the 2021 season. He made the Saints’ 53-man roster out of training camp and made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers on September 12, 2021. Throckmorton entered the game at right guard, replacing Cesar Ruiz, who shifted to center following an injury to Erik McCoy. He held the starting right guard position for the next five games before moving to left guard in Week 8 after Andrus Peat was placed on injured reserve.

Throckmorton re-signed with the Saints on a one-year contract on February 22, 2023. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 29, 2023, concluding his tenure in New Orleans after three seasons.

Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans (2023)

On August 30, 2023, Throckmorton was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers, joining a new organization mid-campaign. He served in a backup role along the Panthers’ offensive line during his brief tenure. Throckmorton was waived by Carolina on November 14, 2023.

The following day, November 15, 2023, Throckmorton was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans. He completed the 2023 season with the Titans, continuing his journey through multiple organizations in search of a consistent role.

Denver Broncos Era (2024–Present)

On April 1, 2024, Throckmorton signed with the Denver Broncos, providing depth along their offensive line. He was released during the Broncos’ final roster cuts on August 27, 2024, and signed to the practice squad the following day. On November 1, 2024, Throckmorton was promoted to the active roster to serve as the Broncos’ backup center while Luke Wattenberg recovered from injury.

Throckmorton was waived and signed back to the practice squad in late November 2024 before signing a reserve/future contract with Denver on January 13, 2025. He was released during final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and returned to the practice squad on August 27. Throckmorton was promoted to the active roster on October 14, 2025. He was waived in mid-December and returned to the practice squad, promoted again on December 25, then waived and re-signed to the practice squad the following day.

Positional Versatility and Strengths

Throckmorton’s primary strength lies in his positional versatility along the offensive line. Throughout his college and professional career, he has demonstrated the ability to play guard and tackle positions on both sides of the line. At Oregon, he proved capable of starting at all five offensive line positions, a rare achievement that showcased his football intelligence and adaptability. His experience at multiple positions makes him a valuable depth piece for any NFL team, as he can fill in at various spots along the line when needed.

Notable Events and Milestones

Throckmorton’s college career included several notable accomplishments that highlighted his development into a professional-caliber offensive lineman. His redshirt junior season at Oregon, when he started at four different positions, stands as a unique achievement at the FBS level. Pro Football Focus recognized him as the fourth-best offensive tackle in college football during that season. His third-team All-American selection by the Associated Press in 2019 demonstrated his status among the top collegiate linemen in the country.

Calvin Throckmorton Career Statistics

Throckmorton has built a solid professional career across five NFL seasons, appearing in games with multiple teams while contributing primarily as a backup and spot starter. His ability to remain on NFL rosters despite being undrafted reflects his value as a versatile depth player.

NFL Career Summary

Through the 2025 season, Throckmorton has appeared in 58 NFL games with 27 starts across his career with the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, and Denver Broncos. His professional statistics reflect his role as a reliable backup and spot starter capable of filling in at multiple positions along the offensive line.

College Career Highlights

At Oregon, Throckmorton started 48 games across four seasons, demonstrating the durability and consistency teams value in offensive linemen. He earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition twice before breaking through with second-team All-American honors from multiple outlets during his redshirt junior season. His third-team All-American selection by the Associated Press in 2019 capped his collegiate career as he transitioned to professional football.

2025 Season Performance

Throughout the 2025 season, Throckmorton continued his role as a rotational piece along the Denver Broncos’ offensive line. He spent significant time on the practice squad while periodically elevating to the active roster when the team needed depth at center. His pattern of being promoted and returning to the practice squad reflected his utility as a versatile backup capable of stepping in when called upon.

The Broncos’ offensive line saw various moving pieces during the season, and Throckmorton’s availability provided valuable insurance at multiple interior positions. His experience from previous seasons with the Saints, Panthers, and Titans gave him a broad understanding of different offensive schemes and line chemistries.

Looking ahead, Throckmorton signed a reserve/future contract with the Broncos on January 26, 2026, indicating the team’s continued interest in his services. His positional flexibility and proven durability position him as a candidate to compete for a more permanent role along Denver’s offensive line in future seasons. As he enters his sixth NFL campaign, Throckmorton remains a textbook example of an undrafted player’s persistence in earning a professional career through versatility and reliability.