The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers selected a quarterback in the first round of an NFL Draft was almost two decades ago, when they used the 11th overall pick on Miami University standout Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Of course, the decision paid off tenfold, as he helped lead the team to a pair of Super Bowls and produced a Hall of Fame career across 18 non-losing seasons.
Earlier this offseason, Roethlisberger officially announced his retirement, and when the 2022 draft begins next week, Pittsburgh may feel compelled to use its first-round selection on a signal-caller. Unlike last spring's class, there's no consensus top quarterback across the league's reputable mock draft boards. But if the team wants to roll the dice with the 20th pick, SiriusXM NFL analyst Solomon Wilcots believes they should target Cincinnati star Desmond Ridder.
"When people talk about the upside, they talk about Malik Willis. But I look at the more functional components to what a player already brings," Wilcots told The DA Show on Tuesday. "That's what we have to look at: who are you today. And if a team had to rely on you to play, or go in and win a game, who has the skillset and has shown the temperament and talent to be able to get it done? And I think that it's Desmond Ridder...
"If you look at the guy who really achieved and was able to lead their program against top-notch talent on a consistent basis, it was Ridder out of Cincinnati. The other guy was Matt Corral, to be honest... But, right now, the guy for me is Desmond Ridder. I'm going to tell you now: if he ends up with the Steelers in a developmental program with one year to redshirt, I wouldn't be surprised if he ultimately became a starter for an NFL franchise."
Ridder, who's listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, is currently the third-ranked quarterback and 43rd overall prospect on the Pro Football Focus draft board. The 22-year-old made a strong impression at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, showcasing his athleticism and leadership qualities during workouts. In 14 games last year, Ridder threw for 3,334 yards with 30 touchdowns and eight picks. He also rushed for 355 yards on 110 attempts with six scores.
With the high level of production, Ridder helped carry Cincinnati to a perfect regular season (13-0), and in December, they became the first Group of Five program to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff. Unfortunately for the Bearcats, they were limited to just six points in a Cotton Bowl loss to Alabama. Ridder finished eighth in Heisman voting, and in four seasons with Cincinnati, he won 44 games -- the third-most in FBS history.
The entire NFL Draft conversation between Wilcots and DA can be accessed in the audio player above.
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