Nov 6, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) runs with the ball for a touchdown against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the first half at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports — Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Over 10 NFL Teams Grade Desmond Ridder as a First-Round Talent

The quarterback is trying to be the second first-round passer in UC history.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Apr 13, 2022 1:43 PM EDT

CINCINNATI — Former Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder seems more likely to land in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft each passing day, and the latest report is no different. According to Jordan Schultz, all 13 teams he has contacted tell him they stuck Ridder with a first-round grade.

"Have now spoken with 13 teams about Desmond Ridder," Schultz tweeted. "All of whom have him graded as a 1st-round player. We’ve been saying this for a while now, but Ridder’s going to go higher than what was originally anticipated."

Ridder is the consensus 37th-best prospect overall and is being mocked most often to the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 20) over the past week (13% of mock drafts). He has quickly become the favorite QB in this class for analysts like The Athletic's Nate Tice and Football Outsiders' Derrik Klassen.

The all-time wins leader in UC history plays the position with a cerebral feel and is the most pro-ready quarterback when it comes to reading defenses and working through progressions after the snap. NFL teams are noticing—and valuing—Ridder's set of traits.

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