Ex-Raiders QB Signs With Playoff Contender After Prolonged Free Agency

The Las Vegas Raiders had to go through three different starting quarterbacks last season. Gardner Minshew started the season before getting benched and then hurt. Aidan O’Connell also missed games due to injury.

This led the team to sign Desmond Ridder off of the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. He ended up starting one game, but didn’t play well, so the Raiders mostly used him as a change-of-pace quarterback who could make plays with his legs.

Ridder has been stuck in free agency for months. He was supposed to have a workout with the Denver Broncos, but backed out, which led to some speculation that he was planning to retire. That won’t be the case.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Ridder has signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of training camp. Joe Burrow is cemented as the start there, so Ridder won’t be competing for a starting job, but he could win a backup job.

Notably, Ridder played college football at Cincinnati, so this is a bit of a homecoming for him.

Geno Smith Ranked 22nd QB in NFL

The Raiders needed a better option at starting quarterback this season, which led them to trade for Geno Smith. He’s developed into one of the better starters in the NFL, and some are very high on him.

However, Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated is not much of a fan. He ranked Smith as the 22nd quarterback in the NFL.

“The Raiders are rebuilding behind coach Peter Carroll and Smith, having acquired the 34-year-old from the Seahawks for a third-round pick. Smith joins his fifth team with the hopes of revitalizing Las Vegas, but it won’t be easy considering the ample issues facing him,” Verderame wrote.

“The Raiders have questions on the outside. While second-year tight end Brock Bowers is coming off the best rookie campaign ever at his position with 1,194 yards to earn First-Team All-Pro honors, the receivers are Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and rookie Jack Bech. Meyers had the first 1,000-yard campaign of his career in 2024, but that also took 129 targets.”

Could Smith Be an MVP Candidate?

While Verderame isn’t that high on what Smith will do with the Raiders, not everybody feels that way. At the very least, he should be a major upgrade over what the team had the last two seasons.

If he turns the Raiders around and gets them to the playoffs in Year 1, he could be in-line for some accolades. Eric Edholm of NFL.com named an MVP candidate for every AFC team. His choise for the Raiders was Smith.

“The Raiders knew they had to upgrade at quarterback this offseason, and Smith represents their best hope at the position since peak Derek Carr, who finished third in MVP voting in 2016,” Edholm wrote. “Las Vegas might not be overflowing with offensive talent, but Smith might be able to bring this offense together enough to put himself in the running. He finished tied for ninth in the MVP race just three seasons ago and could still have enough left in the tank, even as he’s set to turn 35 this year.”