It is safe to say that this isn’t a vintage quarterback class. It lacks the star power of 2021 and each of the big names has major concerns with their game. That said, every class produces at least a couple of NFL starters and this one will be no different. Here are my top ten quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
1. Carson Strong – Nevada (6-3, 225, rs-Junior)
Pros: Strong possesses arguably the strongest arm in this year’s class and pairs this with high-level accuracy at every level of the field. Strong logged a 77.8% adjusted completion rate in 2021, the third highest rate amongst draft-eligible quarterbacks. He has also shown himself to be an outstanding processor, with the ability to work through progressions effectively and execute full field reads, with good poise in the pocket. Unlike a lot of the other quarterbacks in this year’s class, he also had responsibility for calling pass protections and audibles at the line of scrimmage.
Cons: Major lack of mobility and offers nothing as a runner. He will be far more reliant on his offensive line than other quarterbacks in this class. Struggles to throw with consistent accuracy when his feet aren’t set. Lengthy and concerning injury history, most notably being diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans lesions in high school, which required significant surgery in both high school and college.
Projection: 1st round
2. Malik Willis – Liberty (6-0, 219, rs-Senior)
Pros: Rivals Strong for the best arm strength in the class. He is capable of generating a tonne of velocity on deep balls and throws to the far hashes. Works very well outside of structure and doesn’t need to set his feet to make throws. Makes some truly special throws too and led the FBS in big-time throw rate at 11%. Pairs this with elite athletic traits. Willis racked up over 2,000 rushing yards in the last two seasons and averaged 8.4 yards per carry in his career. Led the FBS with 90 forced missed tackles on his 151 carries.
Cons: Inconsistent accuracy. He had an adjusted completion rate of just 50% on intermediate throws, which ranked 123rd amongst all FBS quarterbacks. Operated a simplistic offense at Liberty and was rarely asked to make NFL-style progressions. When he was, the results were erratic to say the least. Won’t give up on plays on when he should and this results in some seriously questionable throws. Willis had 18 turnover-worthy plays in 2021, the second-most amongst draft eligible quarterbacks.
Projection: 1st round
3. Desmond Ridder – Cincinnati (6-3, 211, rs-Senior)
Pros: Possesses good arm strength and has shown himself to be comfortable attacking all three levels of the field. Knows when to work the deep ball and his 14 deep touchdowns in 2021 ranked third amongst draft-eligible quarterbacks. Calculated in his risk taking too, with a turnover-worthy play rate of just 2%. Comfortable and quick working through his progressions as a passer and showed the ability to operate NFL concepts. Ridder is also a well-rounded athlete who can be a contributor in the designed running game, racking up 2,772 rushing yards throughout his career.
Cons: Accuracy has been a noticeable issue in college and he misses far too many easy throws. His adjusted completion rate on intermediate passes in 2021 was just 61.9%, which ranked way down at 67th amongst FBS quarterbacks. He also needs to work on throwing with touch, as far too many of his passes are forced at full speed when a more considered approach would be prudent. Has a lean build and has struggled with ball security at times (36 career fumbles in college).
Projection: 2nd round
4. Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh (6-3, 217, rs-Senior)
Pros: Really smart player who processes the game well. Comfortable operating true dropback concepts and will progress through his reads quickly and efficiently. Takes very good care of the football and won’t force it to his initial read if they aren’t open. Highly accurate at every level of the field, leading all draft-eligible quarterbacks with a 78.8% adjusted completion rate. Offers a good athletic profile and is comfortable creating outside of structure as both a passer and as a runner. Could potentially be used on designed runs in the NFL.
Cons: Pocket presence is a real concern. Has a long history of playing behind bad offensive lines and that has resulted in him developing a bad tendency to bail on clean pockets. This continued into 2021 despite a substantial improvement in pass protection and saw him leave a number of big plays on the table. Historically small hands that resulted in ball security issues, with 38 career fumbles. Solid arm talent, but nothing special from an NFL perspective.
Projection: 2nd round
5. Matt Corral – Ole Miss (6-1, 212, rs-Junior)
Pros: Has good arm strength to work every level of the field. Arguably the best quick game thrower in the class, with great footwork and a quick release. Accuracy in the short to intermediate areas is very impressive. Also shows the ability to create outside of structure and doesn’t need to set his feet to make special throws. Good athletic profile that will make him a true rushing threat at the next level, with enough twitch to make defenders miss in the open field. Showed notable improvements to his ball security in 2021.
Cons: Played in an incredibly simplistic offense at Ole Miss that rarely asked him to read the defense and get through his progressions. 81.1% of his dropbacks in 2021 were accounted for by screens, RPOs, or play action, by far the highest rate of any quarterback in this class. On the rare occasion he was asked to make progressions he was slow to get through his reads and inconsistent in his decision making. Takes far too many hits as a runner and needs to learn to slide if he is to avoid serious injuries.
Projection: 2nd round
6. Sam Howell – North Carolina (6-0, 218, Junior)
Pros: Very good arm strength. Arguably the best deep ball thrower in the class and 42 of his 94 career touchdowns came on passes of 20+ air yards. Understands how to vary touch and placement to put his receivers in good positions to succeed. Takes very good care of the football too, with a turnover-worthy play rate of just 2.7% throughout his career. Tough and gritty in the pocket, with the willingness to stand in under pressure. This attitude also shows up as a runner and he’s capable of picking up additional yardage with his legs when plays break down.
Cons: Operated a very simplistic at North Carolina that isn’t easily translatable to the NFL. Was not often asked to make progressions as a passer and was slow to do so when he was. Still very much a one-read quarterback and will take off if his first read isn’t open, with 13% of his dropbacks resulting in a scramble. This worked in college but he isn’t nearly athletic enough to succeed like this in the NFL. Mechanics also need some work and resulted in intermittent accuracy issues.
Projection: 3rd round
7. Bailey Zappe – Western Kentucky (6-0, 215, rs-Senior)
Pros: Hugely productive in his lone season in the FBS, breaking records for passing yards and touchdowns. Plenty of experience as a passer and showcases excellent accuracy at every level of the field. Showcases an advanced understanding of touch and ball placement. Comfortable working through his progressions and understands how to manipulate defenders with his eyes. Very smart decision maker who rarely puts the ball in harms way. Has enough athleticism to extend plays outside the pocket.
Cons: Below-average arm strength that will cause problems in the NFL. His lack of velocity to consistently make throws downfield or to the sideline limits his margin for error. When he tries to make up for this by driving a fastball into tight coverage it often results in issues with ball placement. Accuracy suffers when he can’t set his feet. Played in a quick-strike Air Raid offense that meant he rarely had to deal with pressure, a luxury he won’t have in the NFL. When he was pressured he lacked the poise to climb the pocket and deliver on-target passes.
Projection: 4th round
8. Jack Coan – Notre Dame (6-3, 218, rs-Senior)
Pros: Has an old-school pocket passer build and shows good poise and decision making when working in structure. Good overall arm strength, with the ability to work all three levels of the field and make throws into tight windows. Accuracy is also good, logging a 76.5% adjusted completion rate in 2021. Capable of functioning under pressure, showing the ability to progress through his reads and navigate the pocket to avoid defenders.
Cons: Limited from an athletic standpoint, with no ability as a designed runner and limited upside when it comes to creating outside of structure. Struggles to maintain his accuracy when he can’t set his feet or is forced to throw off-platform. Ball placement is inconsistent and you’d like to see more precision from a player who needs to operate solely from the pocket. Eyes fail him at times and he will completely fail to see defenders in coverage.
Projection: 6th round
9. E.J. Perry – Brown (6-1, 211, rs-Senior)
Pros: True dual-threat quarterback who made a reputation for his ability to create outside of structure. He is an explosive and tough runner who racked up over 1,000 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns over his last two seasons. Showed the ability to make throws from a variety of platforms and doesn’t need to set his feet to deliver a strike. Very productive in his two seasons with Brown, including leading the FCS in total yardage in 2019.
Cons: Small in both height and frame, with small hands too. Arm strength is average and his accuracy downfield was hit and miss. Has a habit of forcing passes when receivers aren’t open, leading to a concerning 3.8% turnover-worthy play rate in 2021. Doesn’t do much to manipulate defenders with his eyes and needs to show more anticipation as a passer. Low level of competition is also an obvious concern.
Projection: 6th round
10. Dustin Crum – Kent State (6-1, 210, rs-Senior)
Pros: Experienced dual threat quarterback who put up over 9,000 scrimmage yards during his college career. Has the athleticism to be a legitimate threat on designed runs and led Kent State with 12 rushing touchdowns in 2021. Very competent decision maker and calculated risk taker. His 7.1% big-time throw rate ranked second amongst draft-eligible quarterbacks and he led the class with a turnover-worthy play rate of just 1.6%. Shows toughness in the pocket to stand in and deliver throws under pressure.
Cons: Below average arm strength with an elongated release. Won’t be much of a deep passing threat at the next level. Accuracy and ball placement isn’t ideal either and makes life difficult for his receivers. Internal clock isn’t always as quick as you would like. Thrived in an RPO-heavy offense and wasn’t often asked to execute NFL-style reads. Has a tendency to drop his eyes when pressure is near and relies too much on his ability to create outside of structure as a runner.
Projection: 7th round
