Since 2017, a total of 22 quarterbacks have been selected in the first round of the Draft, including five last year: Trevor Lawrence (pick 1 global), Zach Wilson (2), Trey Lance (3), Justin Fields (11) y Mac Jones (15). It was the sixth year in a row that at least three quarterbacks were drafted in the first round and the fourth time that five were selected in the first round since 1967. The record still belongs to the 1983 Draft, with six.
Those 22 quarterbacks rack up 12 Pro Bowl invitations, including four from Patrick Mahomes, three from Deshaun Watson and two from Kyler Murray. Justin Herbert, Josh Allen and Mitchell Trubisky each have one.
An important fact: of the Classes 2017 and 2018, only Allen (Buffalo) and Mahomes (Kansas City) remain with their teams.
The Class of 2022 is not deep in the most important position and so only a couple of quarterbacks are likely to hear his name come Thursday, April 28, when the NFL draft begins. In Las Vegas.
These are top five passers available in Draft 2022:
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1.- Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Pickett is, according to some of the scouts and experts in the field, the only quarterback ready to start in the NFL in 2022.
The size of his hand has been the subject of controversy a couple of months ago when the Scouting Combine was held, but history says that shouldn’t be a problem where it matters most: on the field.
In four years as a starter in Pittsburgh, Pickett completed 62.4% of his passes and had 12,303 yards, 81 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.. On the ground he accumulated 809 yards and 20 touchdowns, including 13 between 2020 and 2021.
Although not a finished product, some scouts He has been compared to Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
2.- Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Corral has all the tools to be successful in the NFL.
Although he doesn’t have a very powerful arm, is capable of throwing any pass that the position demands at a professional level.
When the buffer bag collapses, has the ability to create second or third chances thanks to the speed of his feet.
He is not, however, the best when it comes to making his progressions and that could be a problem against more complex defenses in the NFL.
In four years at Ole Miss, three of them as a starter, Corral completed 67.3% of his passes, with 8,287 yards, 57 touchdowns and 23 interceptions, 14 of them in 2020. On the ground he totaled 1,338 yards (average of 4.0 per attempt) and 18 touchdowns, including 11 in 2021.
3.- Malik Willis, Liberty
With the most powerful arm in the Class of 2022 and talent to spare for running the ball, Willis is the prototype of the modern quarterback in the NFL.
He has been compared to Trey Lance—the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick in 2021.— but Willis isn’t quite ready to start among the pros just yet.
The team that drafts him is likely to use him in certain short yardage situations and with plays where he has the option to run, particularly in the red zone.
After two years at Auburn, Willis started a couple of seasons at Libertywhere he completed 62.6% of his passes, with 5,107 yards, 47 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
By land it was a spectacle aside, with 1,822 yards on 338 attempts (average 5.4 per carry) and 27 touchdowns.
4.- Sam Howell, North Carolina
Howell is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the Class of 2022with an arm more than adequate for the NFL and a special touch in shipments of more than 25 yards.
His decision making, however, It is a point to improve and therefore it is unlikely that we see him as a starter in his rookie season.
In three years with the Tar Heels, he completed 63.8% of his passes (68.1 in 2020), with 10,283 yards, 92 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. for a rating of 164.2. On the ground he contributed another 1,009 yards (828 in 2021) and 17 touchdowns.
5.- Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
In three or four years, Ridder could be called the “steal” of the 2022 Draft.
It’s about a tall, athletic quarterback with good mobility in the pocket, able to improvise and make plays as a running back.
not accurate in all your passes, even in those “automatic” or “timing”.
In four years in Cincinnati he passed for 10,239 yards (62.1% effective), with 87 passes to the end zone and 28 interceptions. In addition, he rushed the ball 501 times for 2,180 yards. (average of 4.4 per attempt) and another 28 touchdowns.
The risk / benefit is there, but with the right coaches Ridder he could become a solid starter in the NFL.
