Despite being benched in back-to-back weeks and the Vikings announcing that they intend to move forward with Josh Freeman as their starting quarterback, former first-round pick Christian Ponder has not demanded a trade out of Minnesota.
“I don’t know. Again, I have to figure out what’s best for me and everything and for this team,” he said Wednesday, via the Pioneer Press. “I don’t know if that’s staying here or going somewhere else.”
Minnesota has held Ponder out of action for three weeks and it now appears as though his role will be as a backup to Freeman for the rest of the season. The trade deadline is just two weeks away, but it’s doubtful that the Vikings will find much, if any, interest in Ponder from other NFL teams.
Ponder, 25, is under contract through the 2014 season. Next year, he’ll make $1.76 million, which is a reasonable enough contract to keep. Unless Ponder applies some pressure to either be traded before the deadline or released following the season, there’s a good chance he could be back with the Vikings next year, most likely in a backup role.
Minnesota clearly has options to consider this offseason as Freeman will be an unrestricted free agent, and they could always look to draft a new quarterback prospect to develop.
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