Denver Broncos mock draft round two (first pick)
2a. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Desmond Ridder may not be everyone’s favorite flavor, but I’ve been saying throughout the entire NFL Draft evaluation process that I think NFL coaches are going to be very interested in taking him on as a lower-risk option if you can get him in the late-first or early-second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Ridder was a three-time captain at Cincinnati.
He’s got four years of starting experience and has shown plenty of improvement over that time.
I think in the Denver Broncos’ context, there are few quarterbacks that make more sense if you’re going after someone with one of your top three picks.
In the second round, there is virtually no risk attached to taking a guy. Maybe you hit, maybe you don’t. He doesn’t have the first-round label and thus, can develop at any pace the team dictates. There’s no external pressure to push him to start.
Ridder has outstanding arm talent and athletic traits, some of the best speed you will ever see at the quarterback position.
Desmond Ridder is a QB prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.54 RAS at the Combine out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 39 out of 831 QB from 1987 to 2022. (agilities added) https://t.co/xc4lrLdwbW #RAS via @Mathbomb pic.twitter.com/RbReygRNss
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 4, 2022
Given how much George Paton has prioritized players with high character and high athletic scores, I could see this as being an ideal fit for the Broncos at pick 40.
Of course, everything will change depending on whether or not the Broncos even own this pick in the first place.
Desmond Ridder is not a perfect quarterback prospect who has struggled at times with consistency in his decision-making, but he’s also a dynamic dual-threat at the position with elite athletic traits, intangibles, and tremendous potential.