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Major NFL Draft Analyst Names Ahmad Gardner as his Favorite Pick, Desmond Ridder Starter by Midseason

The Bearcats top talents should make big impact on their NFL teams in 2022.

Author:
Russ Heltman
May 3, 2022 9:52 AM EDT

CINCINNATI — ESPN's Matt Miller and Jordan Reid dished their thoughts on a wide-range of topics surrounding the 2022 NFL Draft and two Bearcats got some love from Reid in the exercise.

The analyst pegged Sauce Gardner as his favorite pick of the draft.

"I thought Jets general manager Joe Douglas knocked it out of the park," Reid wrote. "My favorite pick was actually his first with cornerback Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner at No. 4. Since joining the team in 2019, the highest draft capital that Douglas had used on a defensive player was Ashtyn Davis in the third round (No. 68) in 2020.

"Douglas quickly changed gears this year. He wanted to secure a lockdown corner after seeing Derek Stingley Jr. go at No. 3. What Gardner brings is something the Jets haven't had since the prime days of Darrelle Revis, and he has the length, ball skills and confidence to thrive immediately. Gardner is the building block this team needed and will be a perfect fit in Robert Saleh's defense."

Reid also thinks Desmond Ridder will be one of three rookie QBs to start by midseason.

"Atlanta's Desmond Ridder (No. 74) is another signal-caller I would be on here," Reid wrote. "Durability has always been the biggest criticism of Marcus Mariota. Behind a leaky offensive line, he will be asked to do a lot in that offense as a runner and passer. Based on the previous injury history of Mariota, he could get banged up at some point next season -- which could crack the door open for Ridder to get a chance to start and never hand the job back to Mariota."

The praise continues a trend for the historic Bearcats draft class, especially when looking at Gardner and the Jets. New York just became the first team in the Scouts Inc. era (since 2004) to draft three players with a 92 overall grade or better (Gardner, Jermaine Johnson, Garrett Wilson).

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