The Kansas City Chiefs not only have the best quarterback in the league in Patrick Mahomes, but they also have one of the most durable. Rarely does Mahomes miss time unless it's when the bye week is already locked up at the end of a season. Still, the Chiefs have done a nice job adding a reliable backup option last year with Carson Wentz or signing Gardner Minshew in the 2025 offseason. Both the starting and backup positions are filled without any path to taking either job.

Suggesting the Chiefs explore signing another quarterback is simply to add competition for Bailey Zappe. This is the extent of the suggestion when it is beyond clear that Mahomes and Minshew are the first two options on the depth chart. This level of stability allows you to take a level of risk, and that is exactly what the Chiefs should do. Notable draft bust Desmond Ridder is still looking for an offseason landing spot after a failed stint with Las Vegas.

Ridder was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons to sit and learn behind Marcus Mariota. This ended with the team pivoting to Ridder and believing he would be a franchise answer. Things quickly went awry, and Ridder was dealt to the Cardinals, where he would fail to make the final roster. Quarterback injuries forced the Raiders to add a backup and give Ridder a chance to claim the starting role.

The results were incredibly difficult to watch, with Ridder consistently missing the obvious. Still, the quarterback did have flashes of capability during his time with Atlanta. Signing Ridder isn't about bringing in a quarterback you believe can start or win a game for Kansas City. This is Minshew's role with the hope that the backup never takes the field.

Signing Ridder is about taking a bust under the wing of Andy Reid and Mahomes. For next to nothing, you can see if it is a possible reclamation project or if you're better off retaining Zappe. The only upside of having Ridder on the roster over Zappe is the quarterback's ability to scramble. If the Chiefs ever have a third quarterback on the active gameday roster, you could potentially use Ridder to quarterback sneak, something the Chiefs notably refuse to do with Patrick Mahomes.

At worst, you've added a failed quarterback you can quickly pivot away from if you don't believe there is any value there. At the very least, you push Zappe and give Kansas City fans an interesting wildcard to watch in camp and preseason. Regardless, the Chiefs are in a great position and appear poised to defend their AFC title.