Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Desmond Ridder

Tuesday, April 8, 2:12 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith last month before signing him to a two-year $75 million contract this week. The move united Smith back with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, a reconnection the two are excited about. "I think there is unfinished business, and I think when people think about my story, you know, Coach Carroll was a big part of that," Smith said. "He gave me an opportunity when not many people would have. He saw the hard work that I was putting in, he saw the things behind the scenes that I do that allow me to get this opportunity." Smith enjoyed the best season of his career under Carroll in 2022, passing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. While Smith will be on the fantasy football radar in Superflex and two-QB leagues, he'll likely be a fringe starter in single-QB setups in a rebuilding Raiders' offense. However, tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers give him formidable weapons to put together a solid passing attack.

Tuesday, May 6, 11:29 PM

Free-agent quarterback Desmond Ridder will receive a tryout for the Denver Broncos during their rookie minicamp this weekend, a source tells 9 News' Mike Klis. The former University of Cincinnati product was drafted in the third round in 2022 by the Atlanta Falcons and started 13 games in 2023. The 25-year-old was way too inconsistent and injury-prone, though, with the Falcons moving on after just two seasons. He appeared in six games (one start) for the Las Vegas Raiders last year and completed 61.2% of his 85 pass attempts for 458 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Former first-rounder Bo Nix is Denver's unquestioned starter after a strong rookie season in which he led the Broncos to the playoffs, and Jarrett Stidham will return as his backup. If Ridder is signed, he'd compete with Sam Ehlinger for the No. 3 job in the QB room.