Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Desmond Ridder

Tuesday, June 10, 1:31 PM

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who skipped out on voluntary organized team activities, is present for the start of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Cousins would prefer a trade out of town so that he can have a shot to start somewhere else, but if he remains in Atlanta, he'll open the 2025 season as Michael Penix Jr.'s backup. The Falcons continue to say they plan on keeping Cousins. The 36-year-old four-time Pro Bowler didn't look right in his return from a torn Achilles the year prior, throwing for 3,508 yards, 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 14 starts before being benched late in the year for the rookie Penix. Now that the Steelers have officially signed Aaron Rodgers, there aren't any obvious landing spots for Cousins. For now, he's stuck in QB purgatory and is off the fantasy radar.

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.