2022 NFL Draft: QB's Anyone?

It’s almost draft day! I have to get my quarterback takes on record before I try to sneak in a mock draft prior to Thursday. 

This quarterback class has been dragged through the mud so much that maybe it is even becoming underrated?  Quarterback needy teams are beside themselves, but if you're looking for a backup quarterback this class actually seems deeper than normal.  That doesn't sound very exciting, but usually once you get past the starters it's one or two names before you start talking yourself into the Kellen Mond's and the Ian Book's of the world.  Teams trying to draft a starter might be crossing their fingers that one of these guys hits the high high end of their projection and maximizes their potential. That’s dicey. The real sweet spot is for teams that to snag a guy to groom and come off the bench in a tight spot. Backup quarterback is an underrated commodity.  Having someone that can start a few games and hold down the fort can save a season.  Having that guy on a rookie contract is even more valuable.   

Week 1 Starters:

N/A

I can’t rate any of these guys in this category.  Everyone just seems to have at least one flaw that makes me nervous handing them the keys to the car right out of the gate.  It’s just asking for trouble.  

After Week 1 Starters:

Okay you don’t want to push all of the chips into the middle on day 1, but they have some reasonable probability of fulfilling starter potential and teams should look for opportunities to get them on the field in year 1. 

1.   1.    Malik Willis, Liberty, RS Senior

6' 225 lb. ball of muscle with home run speed that can make people miss.  This is the lone franchise QB prospect in this class that warrants a team committing  100% to him as their starter (even if it takes a year or more to transition to him to pro competition).    

While running, his cuts are a little exaggerated at times and might cause him to take some hits as he adjusts to the league's tackling ability.   He doesn't threaten Lamar Jackson for the crown of most electric quarterback when he decides to rush, but he's in the conversation at the Kyler Murray/Jalen Hurts level.  His arm strength jumped off the screen to me more than anyone in this class. He rocks and fires at multiple arm angles and the ball gets there in a hurry. He doesn't have pinpoint accuracy, but he's not hopeless either.  I'd prefer if he were only exposed to spot starting duty in year one, but he'll survive on his athleticism if he needs to. 

2.    2.   Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh, RS Senior

Same category, different reasons.  Pickett is turning 24 this year.  You can’t groom him for too long.   But his ceiling isn’t high enough to commit to him as plan A with no plan B.  At 6’3” his size is adequate.  His accuracy and arm strength are adequate. His processing is adequate.  But where does that get you? At his age can he improve or is it what you see is what you get?

He scrambles in the pocket well, but sometimes leaves too early. He can rush well enough, but he's most dangerous throwing on the run. He has some potential, but I can't picture him as more than a mid-tier starter. Kirk Cousins keeps popping in my head.  He'll do 5 things that look like he has it all figured out and then 2 that make you scratch your head. 

 

Backup Fodder?:

Don’t draft them to start, but maybe down the road you find out have something.

3.    3.   Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky, RS Senior

And the 2022 Tyler Huntley Memorial Award (for the quarterback I'm way higher on than most people) goes too:  Bailey Zappe.  He's only 6'1", but he navigates the pocket and reads the field well. He threads the needle of having a bold attacking style while avoiding recklessness.    If I had any guts, I'd tout him as a late day 1 or early day 2 prospect..  But i don't think he'll go there so i'm splitting the difference between the late round UDFA consensus and my take that he's going to start in this league at some point.  I think he can be what people want Baker Mayfield to be.  It's hard to grade college players against the wide array competition levels.  I'm always looking for the small school guys to dominate a little more than prospects playing in the bigger conferences.  While I'm not big on college stats,  Zappe did set the single season college record for yards and touchdowns. 

 

4.   4.    Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan, RS Sophomore

And the runner up for the Tyler Huntley Award goes to: Kaleb Eleby.  Eleby is another shorter prospect at 6'1", but he has a little more rushing ability than Zappe.  He reminds me of Russell Wilson with his patience in the pocket and his ability to navigate to space when he needs to keep the defense honest (even if he doesn’t quite have Wilson’s deep ball talent). He ran a pretty RPO heavy offense in college.  Does a team land him with that in mind as the vision for their offense?

5.   5.    Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati, RS Senior

Unpopular opinion alert.  Sorry Bearcats fans.  I went into my evaluation of Ridder hoping to endorse a Cincinnati quarterback as one of the league's future stars, but when all was said and done I couldn't quite get there.  Ridder has been lauded for his leadership, competitiveness and as being the most pro ready prospect in this class.  True, true, and tr..well, not quite on that third bullet point.  He does a lot of things well and has the intangibles you want in a starting quarterback.  He's bold.  But unlike Zappe, he pushes the envelope juuust a little more and crosses that wreckless line a too often for my liking.  He navigates the pocket well, then he'll hold onto the ball for that extra second and take a blind side strip sack.  He reads the field well and then forces a couple throws he shouldn't.  He’s accurate and then he'll whiff on a throw, even on something as simple as a little swing pass in the flat.  

Maybe he'll develop, but a lot of it looks to me like it's hardwired into his personality and he'll end up making too many costly mistakes to be a long term starter.  

Backup Fodder:

It’s not inconceivable these guys end up leading a franchise, but the probability is lower.

6.  6.     Skylar Thompson, Kansas State, RS Senior

Solid.  Makes good reads and good throws, but has a little less starting potential than the guys ahead of him. I was pretty confident watching him that he was going to make a good decision with the football.  That should have value on someone's roster. 

7.       Sam Howell, North Carolina, Junior

I started calling Howell the COVID quarterback… he needs six feet of separation to pull the trigger on a throw.  He did look better in 2020 when he had more draftable talent around him, but I think it was just masking his issues. 

8.       Matt Corral, Ole Miss, RS Junior

I think Corral actually grades out highest at the position’s most important trait: processing. Am I underrating him like I underrated Mac Jones?  Corral just doesn't have quite enough downfield arm talent and accuracy to capitalize on his ability to read the field.  He puts himself in harms way a lot and doesn't really have the frame to take the punishment.  But as a backup? Sign me up.

Practice Squad All-Stars:

9.       9. Jack Coan, Notre Dame, RS Senior

Looks like a blast from the past: Bigger bodied lumbering pocket passer (Although, his listed height/weight seem smaller than he looks).  I don't see any upside here beyond being a solid QB2, but you could certainly do worse trying to bring in a camp arm.  I think he'll end up on a practice squad. 

 

10.  10.  Carson Strong, Nevada RS Junior

I heard some buzz on Strong, but I wasn't enamored with him.  He seemed a little stiff and didn't excel enough anywhere else to get me excited about drafting him.  I'd pass.