Desmond Ridder, former UC quarterback, reacts to being selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft at his draft party in Louisville, Ky., on Friday, April 29, 2022. Desmond Ridder Draft 46 — © Albert Cesare / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Major Analysts Name Desmond Ridder 'Steal of the 2022 NFL Draft'

Ridder fell into the third round and Atlanta took advantage with the 74th pick.

Author:
Russ Heltman
May 2, 2022 8:37 AM EDT

CINCINNATI — Desmond Ridder waited longer than he wanted to before finding an NFL home, but ESPN's Dominique Foxworth thinks Ridder has a great chance to be the biggest steal of the 2022 NFL Draft.

"This feels like a steal," Foxworth said about the Falcons landing Ridder at No. 74. "This guy's a potential starting quarterback in the NFL. To get that guy in the third round is a great acquisition. There in position so that they can do it again next year if it doesn't work out. So at some point he is clearly going to get a chance. They don't have to rush him out there. We've said a number of times about the Falcons that they are clearly in rebuild mode when they traded away Matt Ryan so they can take their time developing him in the first year, and I think it's a great pick."

Former Vikings GM Rick Spielman also called the selection a steal for Atlanta.

"Maybe the steal of the draft, I thought, was Ridder, where they got him in the third round," Spielman said. "The biggest issue I had with him was the accuracy part, but he doesn't have to come in and start right away. But I think he'll be a very good quarterback in this league."

Ridder had a 30.5 draft over/under prior to Thursday and fell 44 spots past that estimation—fueling him with plenty of motivation as he gears up for the start of Falcons Rookie Mini Camp.

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