Since the Washington Commanders ended the 2021 regular season last month, rumors have swirled about how aggressive Washington will be in finding a franchise quarterback in 2021.
Head coach Ron Rivera plans to swing big, targeting superstars such as Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson. Rodgers and Wilson aren’t happening, and Watson seems doubtful, too.
In all likelihood, the Commanders will be debating between trading for Jimmy Garoppolo or signing someone from the group of Mitchell Trubisky, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota. If Washington added any of these options, it would still likely draft a quarterback early in the 2022 NFL draft.
Early mock drafts have the Commanders picking between Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral and Malik Willis. However, a new post-Super Bowl mock draft by Bleacher Report has Washington going in another direction with Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder at No. 11 overall.
Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder didn’t put on a show recently at the Senior Bowl, but his performance didn’t change his status as Bleacher Report’s QB1. The little things are what separate Ridder from an otherwise muddled quarterback class.
“Ridder improved greatly throughout the 2021 season, and here, Washington bets that he still has more growth potential,” Tice suggested. “His footwork and understanding of concepts would allow him to potentially start early in his career, but has the athleticism and work ethic to take another leap in the NFL.
“Ridder can have some accuracy issues early in contests, but he settles in as games go along and has the ability to deliver throws at all three levels.”
Kenny Pickett may be the safest pick among an unsteady quarterback crop, and Liberty’s Malik Willis has the rawest potential. Ridder falls between those two points as the best combination of working from the pocket with the ability to create beyond designed plays.
I don’t see Ridder going No. 11 overall. However, I like Ridder. I see a future starter in the former Cincinnati Bearcat. And he would fit the mold of passer Rivera likes. He is athletic, competitive and can make all of the throws. No, he doesn’t have the arm of Willis, but Ridder has shown he doesn’t lack arm strength.
Ideally, if Washington selects Ridder, it signs a veteran such as Trubisky and have the pair battle it out with Taylor Heinicke in training camp. The question is how high would the Commanders select Ridder?