Desmond Ridder to visit with Seahawks next week

Desmond Ridder made his name as quarterback of the Cincinnati Bearcats and threw for 3,334 yards with 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions during his senior season before he began preparations for the NFL Draft that will get underway on April 28. 

Ridder's draft stock is reportedly gaining momentum, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the prospect is flying to meet with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday and then visiting with the Carolina Panthers next Tuesday. 

The Steelers are looking for a successor following the retirement of future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger even though they signed Mitchell Trubisky in free agency. Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer recently remarked that "we do need a quarterback" with Sam Darnold currently atop the Carolina depth chart. 

A new team has been added to the mix, as Ridder is also set to visit the Seattle Seahawks next Wednesday. 

Seattle unofficially sparked a rebuild by trading one-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos and then releasing All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner last month. Former Broncos flop Drew Lock is currently QB1 for the Seahawks, so it's not a stretch to suggest Seattle could take a flier on a signal-caller in the first round of this year's player-selection process. 

It's also worth noting, though, that the Seahawks are believed to be one of several clubs keeping an eye on the Cleveland Browns while they still have 2018 first-overall draft pick Baker Mayfield on the roster following their trade for Deshaun Watson. Mayfield may be on track to remain attached to the Browns through the end of the draft unless Cleveland simply releases him beforehand. 

However, meeting with projected first-round talents could be an attempt by Seattle to force Cleveland into selling Mayfield with a draft selection included simply to get rid of him and his fully guaranteed $18.858 million salary for 2022.