The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft is just a few days away and we could see plenty of action on the quarterback front — which would be par for the course at this position based on the frenzied activity this offseason.
Numerous teams still have an unsettled situation under center and despite there not being a bona fide superstar prospect at the position, we could see three or four quarterbacks taken in the first 32 picks.
On Pro Football Focus’ big board of the top 250 college football prospects, only one quarterback makes the top 30, suggesting this crop of quarterbacks won’t be headliners of the draft class.
Here are the top five quarterbacks ranked by PFF along with their overall ranks and their 2021 stats.
2022 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings
1) Malik Willis (ranked 30th), Liberty
- 13 games, 61.1% completion percentage, 2,857 yards, 27 TD, 12 INT, 878 rush yards, 13 rush TD
2) Sam Howell (34th), North Carolina
- 12 games, 62.5%, 3,056 yards, 24 TD, 9 INT, 828 rush yards, 11 rush TD
3) Desmond Ridder (41st), Cincinnati
- 14 games, 64.9%, 3,334 yards, 30 TD, 8 INT, 355 rush yards, 6 rush TD
4) Kenny Pickett (42nd), Pittsburgh
- 13 games, 67.2%, 4,319 yards, 42 TD, 7 INT, 5 rush TD
5) Matt Corrall (53rd), Ole Miss
- 13 games, 67.9%, 3,349 yards, 20 TD, 5 INT, 614 rush yards, 11 rush TD
2022 NFL Draft: Odds on First QB Drafted
Willis is the favorite to be the first quarterback to go as he’s appeared on top-five lines for the second overall pick, which belongs to the Detroit Lions and their situation regarding the underwhelming Jared Goff.
Potential Landing Spots
Where might each of these quarterbacks go? The oddsmakers at DraftKings have the top five favorites (any position) for each of the first 22 picks available. Here is where quarterbacks appeared:
- No. 2 (Lions): Malik Willis (+1200)
- With a major rebuild still in store and need of top talent, a quarterback isn’t at the top of the Lions’ list. Pass rushers in Adian Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux will likely be the move.
- No. 6 (Panthers): Kenny Pickett (+175), Malik Willis (+400)
- The Panthers look to be moving on from Sam Darnold and if they don’t trade for Baker Mayfield, they could very well be the first team in the draft to take a quarterback.
- No. 8 (Falcons): Malik Willis (+650)
- Having traded Matt Ryan to the Colts and bringing on Marcus Mariota, the Falcons have a stopgap at the position, but they could always use another option.
- No. 16 (Saints): Malik Willis (+650)
- Jameis Winston is back to try and prove that he can be New Orleans’ No. 1 man when healthy, but the Saints could be looking for a high-ceiling option to not have to turn to Taysom Hill if necessary.
- No. 19 (Saints): Malik Willis (+750), Kenny Pickett (+1000)
- No. 20 (Steelers): Malik Willis (+500), Kenny Pickett (+600), Desmond Ridder (+1000)
- Ben Roethlisberger has hung up the pads and the corresponding move to find the next franchise quarterback didn’t instill much confidence by acquiring Mitchell Trubisky, who spent last year backing up Josh Allen in Buffalo.
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