Christian Ponder to Raiders: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Jim Mone/Associated Press

The writing was on the wall for Christian Ponder’s career with the Minnesota Vikings when they drafted Teddy Bridgewater from Louisville.

Ponder is now set to take his talents to Oakland as the Raiders announced on Friday that they've signed the veteran quarterback to an undisclosed contract. Pro Football Talk added that signing Ponder will likely lead to fellow veteran backup quarterback Matt Schaub being cut.

Ponder only appeared in two games for the Vikings during the 2014 season, but he failed to throw a single touchdown pass in either of them. He started an October contest against the Green Bay Packers and completed 22 of 44 passes for 222 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions in a blowout 42-10 loss.

It probably didn’t inspire much confidence from the front office.

Ponder’s best season in a Vikings uniform came in 2012, but even then he threw 12 interceptions to his 18 touchdowns passes and failed to crack the 3,000-yard barrier.

Ponder commented on his time in Minnesota, via Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: “I didn’t take full advantage of the opportunity I was given.”

The good news for his new team is that Ponder is still only 27 years old. He theoretically has plenty of productive years left and can serve as a solid backup and source of depth at a position that sees its fair share of injuries every season.

Ponder may not be the type of quarterback who can carry a team to a Super Bowl title, but depth is arguably more important under center than at any other position. He provides exactly that.