2022 NFL Draft: Ranking the top-5 quarterback prospects
By Tommy Jaggi
3. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Despite his terrific athletic testing at the 2022 NFL Combine, Desmond Ridder isn’t nearly as flashy as some of the other quarterbacks in this class. I think Ridder still has a lot to work on when it comes to his accuracy and I think his arm is just average for NFL standards. However, I also believe that Ridder might have the highest floor.
It’s hard to fake a 43-6 career record in college football — even on a non-Power Five team filled with NFL talent. Ridder simply finds a way to get the job done, and his teammates rave about his leadership skills.
Unlike Willis, Ridder was a good decision-maker in college and took great care of the football. He played more game-manager football than the other top QB prospects in this class, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Ridder is also might be the most pro-ready prospect in this class thanks to loads of starting experience. I don’t believe that Desmond Ridder has the same upside as Malik Willis or even Matt Corral, but he checks every box and has the potential to be a long-time NFL starter.