Who Should I Start? Zach Wilson or Desmond Ridder

Wednesday, May 1, 2:15 PM

The Denver Broncos have informed quarterback Zach Wilson and his representatives that they won't pick up his fifth-year option, according to sources. The Broncos acquired the New York Jets' former second overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft early last week and then selected QB Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in this year's draft. Wilson's option would have been for a guaranteed $22.408 million in 2025. The Jets will pay a significant portion of Wilson's $1.055 million base salary in 2024, and he's now headed for free agency next spring. Wilson, Nix and Jarrett Stidham, who started the final two games in 2023 when the team benched Russell Wilson, will compete for the starting job in Denver in training camp this summer. It's a fresh start for Wilson, but he has not looked like a starter in his first three years in the league with a 57% completion rate, 25 interceptions and 23 touchdowns.

Thursday, March 14, 1:30 PM

The Arizona Cardinals are acquiring former starting quarterback Desmond Ridder from the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, according to a source. Ridder squandered his chance as the full-time starter for the Falcons in 2023 by throwing for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 games (13 starts), eventually being benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke. The former third-round pick out of Cincinnati has also lost nine fumbles in 19 games (17 starts) in his two NFL seasons. Atlanta's signing of Kirk Cousins made Ridder expendable, and he'll now make for a solid backup option in Arizona for starter Kyler Murray. The 24-year-old obviously won't be on the fantasy radar in single-year leagues in 2024 now that he's firmly entrenched in a backup role.