Aggressively Early 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Sam Howell, Kayvon Thibodeaux top class
By Randy Gurzi
Scouting Report. 9. 45. Pick Analysis. QB. Cincinnati. Desmond Ridder. player
9. Denver Broncos: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
How they sat there at No. 9 with Justin Fields on the board and didn’t pull the trigger will never make sense to me. Drew Locke regressed in a big way in 2020 and Teddy Bridgewater is probably better than Lock but he’s a stop-gap.
Sure, Patrick Surtain was well worth the No. 9 pick but they had a shot at a legit star and said — no thanks, we’ll stick with the guy who completed 57 percent of his passes last year after we invested heavily at wide receiver for him.
Now that I’m off that soapbox, the Broncos make things right by taking Desmond Ridder here. He’s no Fields but Ridder is a fast-rising star who has a ton of experience. Should he have one more big campaign, he might mess around and find himself being picked in the top-10 — which is what happens here.
10. player. Scouting Report. CB. Derek Stingley. Pick Analysis. LSU. 30
10. New York Jets: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
The New York Jets focused heavily on fixing their offense in this draft — as they should have. Now at No. 10 in this mock draft, they turn to the defensive side of the ball and grab LSU cornerback Derek Stingley.
A potential All-Pro, Stingley had six picks in 2019 but none in 2020 which was a bit surprising. As long as he continues to shine in coverage — and if he can prove the zero picks last season was a fluke — he should be the first corner off the board.