like you cant see the ridges that would be in thigh pads and the pants just look very smooth like they aren t wearing any pads.

Because a player who needs to be extremely agile like a WR will have really thin light ones. They don't have to wbout getting hit in that area as much as a down in the trenches Lineman does. If I was in the trenches I'd have the biggest thigh pads allowed, charlie horses hurt.

not all thigh pads have ridges, but sometimes they do not wear them at all.

Its because most players esp. Lineman don't wear them... Qbs and Rbs usually do because they have more cotact as in being tackled..

In the NFL, many players do not wear thigh pads. Players want to gain an edge in speed and agility in any possible legal way. So many players believe too much padding causes uncomfort.

But if you ask me, the padding enhances safety. I clearly believe that many injuries could be prevented if the players were mandated to wear the proper padding.