Desmond Ridder and Ahmad Gardner Selected in Top-12 of Latest PFF Mock Draft

The QB was the first passer selected in the site's new mock draft.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Feb 4, 2022 1:41 PM EST

CINCINNATI — The latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus has a pair of Bearcats going in the first 10 picks of April's NFL Draft.

Sam Monson slotted Desmond Ridder to the Denver Broncos at No. 9 as the first quarterback taken in the draft, and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner is just two picks behind him heading to the Washington Commanders at No. 11.

The projection is the highest Ridder has landed in any major mock draft.

"The first team to bite the bullet and grab a quarterback is the Broncos, who select Ridder," Monson wrote. "The quarterback rankings are going to be all over the place this year, and the beauty truly lies in the eye of the beholder.

"Ridder has some size and athleticism to him and rarely put the ball in harm’s way this season, ending with a 2.0% turnover-worthy play rate. This may seem like a reach to some, but quarterbacks always get pushed up the draft board, and few teams are as desperate for a fix as Denver."

The 11th spot is one of the highest projections for Gardner as well, following his stock-boosting performance at the 2021 Cotton Bowl against Alabama.

"Washington needs a quarterback, but for the second season in a row, it might not love the options at No. 11 overall," Monson said in the article. "Washington's defense was a disaster in 2021, and the secondary was a major issue despite additions such as William Jackson III last offseason. Gardner has prototypical size and went through his entire college career without surrendering a touchdown, allowing a 32.6 passer rating — lower than simply throwing the ball away every play instead. Washington’s defense needs that kind of impact in coverage."

Gardner is training for the NFL Combine, while Ridder is hard at work boosting his stock this week at the 2022 Senior Bowl. Fans can watch the latter put his practice reps into action on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network.

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