Second Round
With two picks within three or four selections when it’s all said and done, the Lions take a quarterback early in the second round without worry about the potential value of a fifth-year option for a first-round pick. Getting down to it, a fifth-year option may just delay the inevitable with a quarterback who can’t cut it.
Ridder has his fans and detractors (count Pro Footbal Focus, and we here at SideLion Report, among the former). But this side of Malik Willis he has the most upside in this year’s quarterback class, as hinted by Mel Kiper Jr. comparing him to Josh Allen, and he’s coming off a nice showing at the Senior Bowl.
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1491899828498014215?s=20&t=dT4w0MDQbj8_Lz849zH7tg
Desmond Ridder is ready to make an early impact pic.twitter.com/mDPlQgwfu2
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) February 8, 2022
Within a longer piece predicting quarterback landing spots this offseason (h/t to Heavy.com), Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus predicted the Lions to land Ridder in the draft. He wouldn’t have to start immediately, but there’s a chance he could push Jared Goff for the starting job right away if the opportunity is out there. In any case, the Lions take a shot on their quarterback of the future here.