The Pittsburgh Steelers are clearly targeting a quarterback. Here’s why they don’t swing for the fences in Dane Brugler’s latest NFL mock draft.
Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert have not done a good job hiding their interest in the quarterback prospects this year. After multiple meetings with the QBs at the expense of neglecting other positions during the pre-draft process, it almost seems like a lock that this is where the Steelers will go in round one.
Every time a quarterback is mocked to Pittsburgh, I try to envision what my reaction would be in the moment. In this particular NFL mock draft, I’m not exactly thrilled.
Recently, well-respected NFL Draft analyst, Dane Brugler of The Athletic, conducted his full seven-round mock exactly two weeks from the 2022 NFL Draft. He had the Steelers staying at pick 20 and selecting Cincinnati quarterback, Desmond Ridder. Here’s what Brugler had to say about the selection:
"20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Desmond Ridder, QB, CincinnatiThe Steelers have spent a lot of time and resources evaluating this year’s crop of quarterbacks, and they won’t be shy trading up to get “their guy” if they need to. But “their guy” might be Ridder, who impressed the Steelers’ key decision-makers, including ownership, during pre-draft meetings."
It’s hard to put a finger on exactly who Tomlin and Colbert like most in this draft, as they have met with all of the top quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and Pro Days as well as had dinner meetings with them and brought them in for 30-visits.
Because of this, Ridder certainly cannot be excluded. Brugler obviously believes there’s a solid chance the Steelers go with Ridder, but what will make them choose him over the other quarterbacks available?
Ridder has a blend of quality traits Steelers covet
I’ve watched numerous hours of tape on Desmond Ridder over the past three months — knowing full well that he would be considered an option in the 2022 NFL Draft. In the past, I have described him as a safe, yet unspectacular quarterback.
Ridder checks a ton of boxes the Steelers look for. Apart from playing in a non-Power Five program, Ridder has good size, athleticism, production, and experience to go with a remarkable 43-6 record as a starter at Cincinnati.
Perhaps most importantly, over the past four years, Ridder has proven to be a remarkable leader who can manage the game, go through progressions, and make good decisions with the football.
Unfortunately, Ridder is not without his shortcomings. In terms of arm talent (strength, velocity, and accuracy) he arm is very average by NFL standards. He’s not going to be a quarterback who consistently wows you with off-platform throws or a guy who routinely drives the ball into tight windows.
Ridder also has a ton of work to do in terms of his general accuracy from the pocket. Despite playing at a smaller level of competition with NFL talent around him, he managed to complete just 62.1 percent of his passes in college, and he must improve this area of his game.
Still, if the Steelers are okay with just ‘hitting a double’ instead of swinging for the fences, Desmond Ridder could prove to be a quality, game-managing quarterback who could take good care of the football and allow his defense to do enough to win football games.
Personally, I wouldn’t be a huge fan of this pick, as a just don’t love the arm talent or overall upside to be a top NFL quarterback. However, with a solid defense and a will to always win in the present, I can understand why Tomlin and Colbert may prefer to go with a QB like Desmond Ridder in the NFL Draft.