Big Board ranking: #45

Positional ranking: #4

 

Overview

Position: QB

College: Cincinnati

Class: Senior (RS)

Age: 22

 

Measurables

Height: 6’3 3/8”

Weight: 211 lbs.

Arm length: 32 3/4″

Hand size: 10”

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: 4.52 sec.

Vertical jump: 36.0”

Broad jump: 127.0”

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: 7.15 sec.

Short shuttle: 4.29 sec.

 

Strengths

Experienced and intelligent. Tremendous touch on intermediate throws. Great feel for throwing in between coverage down the seam. Excellent feel for touch throws and trajectory. Impressive anticipatory accuracy with ideal arc. Good overall size and stands tall in the pocket. Throws a very catchable ball. Accurate in the short-passing game. Decisive on short route combinations. Leads his target on short out routes. Drives intermediate throws accurately into second-level windows. Plus downfield accuracy. Above-average overall field vision. Good ball placement with defenders close to his target. Shows a willingness to throw at single coverage on the perimeter. Very good on-the-move accuracy going to his right. Keeps two hands on the ball while moving up in the pocket. Excellent mobility and athleticism. Weapon on zone reads. Glides as a runner with above-average speed when he gets in space. Played very well in road win over Notre Dame (2021).

 

Weaknesses

Ball placement and accuracy can both get erratic at times. Can be late feeling and reacting to pressure. Accuracy falls off when pressured. Sailed some throws over the middle with mechanics getting loose. Interceptions seemed to come throwing outside the numbers. Average arm strength and not a power thrower. Underthrew a couple of deep corner routes. Pushed it with some predetermined underneath throws to the perimeter. Four passes batted down in CFB Playoff loss to Alabama (2021).

 

NFL comparison

Alex Smith

 

Conclusion

Overall, Ridder is an experienced signal-caller with impressive touch and anticipation in the short/intermediate areas of the field, particularly between the numbers. He should be a target for teams looking to draft a quarterback early in the second round.