Louis Riddick Names Dark Horse Quarterback In 2025 NFL Draft
03/19/2025 09:34 AM
Louis Riddick identified a quarterback who could climb into the first round of this year's NFL Draft.
Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are perceived as the top passing prospects likely to garner high picks on April 24. Jaxson Dart is also gaining steam as a possible Day 1 choice, with Mel Kiper Jr. mocking him to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9 overall.
On Wednesday's Get Up, Riddick suggested that a fourth quarterback could join them in the first round. The ESPN analyst called Dart and Tyler Shough "legit prospects" with "a lot of backing behind them."
"Tyler Sough is the one," Riddick said. "This is the one to pay attention to."
Shough suffered a significant injury in three straight seasons before transferring to Louisville for his sixth year in 2024. However, Riddick isn't overly concerned about the 25-year-old's "freak" injury history.
"He dives into the end zone, breaks his collarbone twice. He gets hip-drop tackled when he was at Texas Tech and breaks his ankle," Riddick said. "Those are the kind of things that are not indicative of someone being injury-prone. That's just called being at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Riddick is enamored enough by Shough's physical talent and arm strength to overlook the elevated health risk.
"This cat can throw the rock, though," he continued. "And he's 6'4", 230 pounds, and ran a 4.6 at the Combine. That throw he made against Notre Dame? If that was Patrick Mahomes, we'd be sitting here running it on Get Up over and over."
Even if Shough is gaining some momentum, he might have to wait beyond the draft's opening night for somebody to call his name. In their new mock drafts released this week, neither Mel Kiper Jr. nor Daniel Jeremiah have Shough going in the first round.
Pro Football Focus has Shough as its No. 10 quarterback, and CBS Sports ranks him eighth. However, Riddick may appreciate his employer placing Shough fourth behind Ward, Sanders, and Dart.
On Tuesday, Shough told Rich Eisen that he considers himself a worthy first-round pick. However, he has his "ego checked" and will help whichever team drafts him in any way he can.
"I think I'm the most pro-ready guy to compete and start right away," Slough said.
Related: Mel Kiper Jr. Releases His NFL Draft Prediction For Shedeur Sanders
