Christian Ponder will become a free agent after next season. He doesn’t think that’s all bad.

The quarterback spoke Wednesday for the first time since the Vikings last month declined to pick up his 2015 contract option.

“I didn’t expect them to,” Ponder said. “(With) how things went down in the offseason and everything and last year (with how Ponder played), I expected that it wasn’t going to happen. It’s for my benefit.

“It was not even a guarantee to stick around unless I’m injured or whatever. It gives me an opportunity. It has my options open after the season whether I have leverage to stay here or go somewhere else, where there’s a better place for me to play. We’ll see.”

The Vikings elected not to pick up a fifth-year option for Ponder worth $9.686 million. If they had invoked it, it only would have been guaranteed for injury.

Ponder struggled in his third season in 2013 after having helped steer the Vikings to the playoffs in 2012. He lost his job in the second half of the season to Matt Cassel, who re-signed last March. Then Minnesota drafted quarterback Teddy Bridgewater last month in the first round.

But Ponder, who will make $1.76 million in 2014, remains optimistic. He welcomes the increased competition coming from Bridgewater.

“There was an expectation that there was going to be a quarterback taken (by the Vikings) at some point in the draft,” Ponder said. “It’s good for the team; it’s good for Matt. It’s good for everybody there’s competition at the quarterback spot. He’s great having in the quarterback room. He’s a quiet guy, he’s humble and he works hard, and I like having him around.”

Cassel, projected by many to be the starter, and Ponder both have been getting first-team reps in organized team activities. Bridgewater said he hasn’t got any first-team snaps in his first three days of OTAs.

Bridgewater was around for one day of last week’s three-day session because he was in Los Angeles for a rookie marketing event. He’s taken part in the first two days of this week’s three-day session that concludes Thursday.

“I think I’m doing pretty good each day,” Bridgewater said. “I’m learning, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Bridgewater is “throwing the ball really well” but “still has a long ways to go.” Leave it to wide receiver Greg Jennings to crack about how OTAs are a lot different than game action.

“(Quarterbacks) all look good until you get defenses in their faces,” said Jennings, who added he nevertheless likes what Bridgewater has shown so far.

The Vikings seem to be in no hurry with Bridgewater, who is under contract for the next four years, five if his option is picked up. There might be more urgency now for the first-year coaching staff to get a look at Ponder heading into what could be his final Vikings season.

Ponder has been underwhelming since being taken with the No. 12 pick in the 2011 draft. He insists he wanted to come back to Minnesota, but isn’t hesitant to touch upon his uncertain future.

“I’m trying to compete and trying to do my best when I’m getting the reps I’m getting, and we’ll see what happens,” he said. “There’s always room for improvement for me and there’s always things I can learn. If I play this year, have a chance to play this year, if I’m somewhere next year, we’ll see.”

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.