Could Desmond Ridder Be The Seattle Seahawks Target At Quarterback?
The Seattle Seahawks are meeting with one of the top quarterbacks ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder. Where could he be picked?
As we draw closer to the 2022 NFL Draft, the picture of where the quarterback class lands is becoming a little clearer. We know that both Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett will be selected somewhere in the first round, and likely the top 20, but after that it’s anyone’s guess what happens.
Well, now there’s some potential clarity, as the Seattle Seahawks are meeting with quarterback Desmond Ridder, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder is visiting the #Seahawks today, per source. The first (and only?) known pre-draft quarterback visit for Seattle.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 13, 2022
Now, pre-draft visits don’t always mean that the team will draft the player. They are often to get final checks, go through a bit more in an interview room, and have the player work out in their building. It could mean that the Seahawks just wanted more information from Ridder, and are keeping up with evaluations for this quarterback class to compare to next year’s group (which by all accounts should be better).
However, the Seahawks may not be sold on Drew Lock, even though they’ve committed to him publicly. They could have interest in a couple signal-callers in this year’s class. While there’s a chance that teams could move up to select either Willis, Pickett, or both, Seattle could stay pat or maneuver around to set themselves up to select Ridder in the 20s.
Ridder is arguably the best post-snap processor in the class, and he’s identifying where the ball needs to go quickly based on where the defenses sits/moves/rotates after the snap. He brings plenty of arm strength, mobility, and leadership to the table. His accuracy needs cleaning up, which starts with mechanics, but clean up the layup misses and there’s something here.
The odds and rumblings around the league suggest that Desmond Ridder might be a first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Seattle Seahawks might not be the team to pick him, but for a team that likes to move around (and has good draft capital), it’s something to monitor. They’ve been mocked Willis at times through the process, and Ridder could be available later with potential to start in year one.