Desmond Ridder will visit the Seattle Seahawks today, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.
This marks the Seahawks' first-known visit with a potential quarterback draft pick after they traded away their long-time signal-caller Russell Wilson last month.
Ridder went a perfect 13-0 in his senior campaign at University of Cincinnati, throwing for 3,334 yards and 30 TDs. With him under center, the Bearcats earned a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2021, making Cincinnati the first Group of 5 team to make the playoff.
By most accounts, Ridder is among the top-five quarterback prospects in this year's draft class, but he is the only one of that group who is known to have made the trip to Seattle.
The Seahawks are one of the teams many expect to pick a quarterback during the 2022 NFL Draft, which begins April 28, with Wilson now leading the Denver Broncos. In return for Wilson, Seattle received quarterback Drew Lock and multiple first-round draft picks.
If Seattle does indeed want to move forward with drafting a quarterback, they will have three opportunities to do so in the first two rounds. The Seahawks currently hold the No. 9, No. 40, and No. 41 overall picks, two of which are courtesy of their trade with the Broncos. So if they want to make a move on Ridder, they likely have the picks to do so.
In the last few weeks, Ridder has met with other teams that are in the market for a quarterback, including the Pittsburgh Steelers last Thursday and the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday.
NFL draft prospect visits
- The Carolina Panthers are hosting Pitt QB Kenny Pickett on a visit Wednesday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Pickett's visit comes one day after fellow quarterback prospects Malik Willis, Matt Corral and Ridder were in the building.
- The Houston Texans are hosting top RB prospect Breece Hall for a visit Wednesday, Pelissero reported.
- The Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting Corral on Wednesday and Nevada QB Carson Strong on Thursday, Rapoport reported.
Free-agent visits
- The Indianapolis Colts hosted former Carolina Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore, Rapoport reported via the transaction wire.
Roster Moves
- The Baltimore Ravens signed linebacker Josh Bynes
- Cleveland Browns guard Blake Hance signed his exclusive rights tender with the team. Hance played in all 17 games for the Browns last year with eight starts.
- The Detroit Lions are signing former Ravens safety DeShon Elliott to a one-year deal, Rapoport reported. Defensive end Jessie Lemonier signed his exclusive rights tender with the Lions.
- The Houston Texans signed free-agent cornerback Steven Nelson, per the transaction wire. Nelson's previously played with the Chiefs, Steelers and Eagles, spending the 2021 season with the latter. Across his seven-season career, he's started 84 games, including 16 last year with the Eagles.
- The Indianapolis Colts signed linebacker Brandon King, who played the past five seasons with the Patriots, primarily on special teams.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive lineman Cam Robinson signed his franchise tender, the team announced Wednesday.
