Who Should I Start? Carson Wentz or Desmond Ridder

Wednesday, March 19, 2:33 PM

Veteran free-agent quarterback Carson Wentz and the Cleveland Browns have a mutual interest in bringing him in as their bridge quarterback, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Wentz spent the last two seasons as a backup for the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams following seven years as a primary starter with the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Commanders. Overall, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of North Dakota State has thrown for 22,410 yards, 153 touchdowns, and 67 interceptions in 98 career games. While Wentz is unlikely to emerge as a legitimate NFL starter again, he could provide average quarterback play for Cleveland in 2025 as they search for a new franchise QB following Deshaun Watson's disastrous tenure with the organization. According to Cabot, Wentz could be the backup plan if the Browns do not sign Russell Wilson.

Friday, February 28, 5:22 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders informed quarterback Desmond Ridder that they will not tender him an offer as a restricted free agent this offseason, a source tells NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Ridder will now hit the open market next month after playing in six games (one start) in his lone season for the Raiders in 2024. He went 52-for-85 for 458 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions as a backup in Vegas. The 25-year-old former third-round selection (74th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 out of the University of Cincinnati appeared in 19 games (17 starts) in his first two years in the NFL in Atlanta before the Falcons moved on. Ridder briefly latched on as a backup option with the Arizona Cardinals before joining the Raiders this past season. He has plenty of starting experience since entering the league, but Ridder will just be hoping for a chance to earn a backup gig somewhere else in 2025.