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Detroit Lions 7-round 2022 mock draft: Pre-NFL Combine edition

By Brad Berreman

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) reacts after a turnover on downs in the fourth quarter in during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl Classic, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 27-6.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) reacts after a turnover on downs in the fourth quarter in during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl Classic, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 27-6. /
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Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images /

Second Round

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 50. 34. player. QB. Cincinnati. Desmond Ridder

Sure the are questions about Ridder, from consistent accuracy to level of competition in college. But the upside is clear (see Mel Kiper Jr.’s comparison to Josh Allen), and he started the pre-draft process with a solid week down at the Senior Bowl.

Deeper numbers shine positive light on Ridder, starting here from Sports Info Solutions.

Jim Sannes of numberFire took a look six of this year’s draft-eligible quarterbacks–Ridder, Sam Howell, Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, Carson Strong and Matt Corral. The criteria was a grade of 75 or higher from Scouts Inc. to whittle it down, and using defensive SP+ from ESPN’s Bill Connelly (ranked 1 to 130 for 2021) to determine how each did against top defenses in the country.

Ridder came in fourth of the six in average SP+ rank of his opponents (68.4), with the second-lowest percentage of attempts against the top-50 defenses. Even with a lackluster showing in the playoff against Alabama, he led the group in average yards per attempt (9.1) against top-50 defenses based on good showings against Notre Dame and Houston.

Ridder has fans (me and to a larger extent Pro Football Focus’ Anthony Treash). Early in the second round, with the way this board fell, he was a pretty easy pick for Detroit.

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