Ahmad Gardner now Viewed as "Consensus" Best Cornerback in 2022 NFL Draft, Desmond Ridder Stock Largely Static

The tone changed after the league gathered in Mobile, Alabama.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Feb 5, 2022 2:20 PM EST

CINCINNATI — ESPN's Todd McShay took the pulse of the NFL at this week's Senior Bowl festivities and came away with a "strong consensus" around the league that Ahmad Gardner is the best cornerback available in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Gardner has the highest PFF grade of any corner in college football since 2019, and that reliable body of work is keeping his stock on a steady ascent.

"LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. wasn't in Mobile this week (he's a junior), but NFL teams were still discussing him," McShay said about the top of the cornerback class. "Many just aren't sure what to make of his evaluation. Do you bet on his big six-interception 2019 season, or do you focus on the dip in performance, injury woes, and less hunger against the run in 2020-21? Either way, the strong consensus is that Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner is the top cornerback in the class right now."

Time will tell how high Gardner is selected but playing a premium position, all while capping a stellar college career by holding Alabama's best receiver to negative yards, makes it easy to see why NFL teams are flocking his way.

McShay also summed up Desmond Ridder's week with a feeling that "nothing really changed this week" concerning his weaknesses.

"I really do like just about everything about Ridder's game," McShay said. "He has the 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame. He's mobile. He has a good arm. And he's a proven winner. But nothing really changed this week with the inconsistent ball placement. He's on the money more often than not but just inexplicably misses in the strike zone on too many passes."

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler also discussed Ridder with a couple of team executives.

"NFL teams really want to like Ridder," Fowler said. "with his intangibles, size, mobility, and pretty good arm strength. 'The accuracy is a problem,' said an NFC exec, 'particularly when under duress.' And that issue showed up in spurts during the week, though he did clean up some of those problems during an improved Thursday session. An AFC exec thought he threw it better than expected in Mobile -- 'definitely better than against Alabama [in the College Football Playoff].'"

The Senior Bowl game is often not considered as heavily in draft profiles compared to the practices throughout the week—but an MVP level performance wouldn't hurt for Ridder in a National Team victory.

The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET today on NFL Network.

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