In a quarterback class that’s filled with uncertainty, former Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder might be a name to watch. While he’s far from a sure thing, he does possess a skill set that will give him a chance to make it as a starter in the NFL. However, heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, there is little clarity on where he might be drafted or what kind of career he could end up having.
College Career
Ridder was largely overlooked by colleges and recruiting services while playing high school football in the Louisville area. His scholarship offers were largely limited to Cincinnati and Eastern Kentucky.
Also, Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell was not the head coach when Ridder was recruited to Cincinnati, although he did honor the scholarship offer and welcomed Ridder to the Bearcats, which turned out to be a good decision.
As a redshirt freshman, Ridder started 11 of the 13 games he played, throwing for over 2,400 yards and 20 touchdowns. He limited himself to just five interceptions while also rushing for over 500 yards and five touchdowns while leading the Bearcats to an 11-2 record and a top-25 ranking. Ridder continued to improve in each subsequent season, helping Cincinnati to a 44-7 record during his four seasons.
That includes taking Cincinnati to the Peach Bowl as a junior and helping the Bearcats to a 13-0 season in 2021 that saw them receive an invitation to the College Football Playoff. During his senior season, Ridder threw for over 3,300 yards with 30 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, finishing his career with over 10,000 passing yards, more than 2,000 rushing yards, and 115 total touchdowns.
Pros
Needless to say, Ridder is a dual-threat quarterback who can be dangerous with his legs. While he’s not the fastest or quickest running quarterback the NFL has ever seen, he can cover ground quickly with his 6’4’’ frame. Ridder also showed significant improvement as a passer during his four years at Cincinnati.
He has the arm strength to make all of the necessary throws and fit the ball in tight windows. Ridder can push the ball down the field and has shown good accuracy on short and intermediate passes.
Cons
While there has been a notable improvement in Ridder’s throwing, more work remains. Despite good arm strength, Ridder isn’t always able to add finesse to his passes when the situation calls for it.
He also threw a lot of quick screens in college, helping to improve his completion percentage in a way that may not translate to the NFL. At times, Ridder can be too quick to use his legs rather than reading the field and finding the weakness in the defense.
Projection
Despite being a four-year starter at Cincinnati, Ridder may not be ready to be a starter in the NFL right away. He will need time to develop as a passer and improve his intellectual understanding of the game, where there could be a learning curve. However, Ridder has the size and the physical tools that will intrigue NFL teams.
He could be looked at as a bit of a project, similar to Trey Lance or Jordan Love in recent years. The upside is undoubtedly there if everything comes together for Ridder, which gives him a chance to be a first-round pick and will make him someone worth watching closely over the next few years.