NFL Draft – Quarterbacks | A mediocre or underestimated band?

For the first time since 2017, a quarterback likely won’t be the first player selected in the NFL Draft, which kicks off with the first round Thursday night. However, that does not mean that the 2022 crop of smugglers is not intriguing, quite the contrary. Several of them will be chosen in the first round and there are at least 5 that should have found takers after the first 50 selections. We are therefore starting our file for the NFL draft by presenting you with the cream of the available quarterbacks.

Miguel Bujold
The Press

It’s not unusual, it has even become unmissable. Whether vintage quarterback prospects are considered strong or ordinary, the ratings for the best passers available almost always soar in the months and weeks leading up to the NFL Draft.

All through last fall and even after Bowl season, analysts agreed that the 2022 quarterback lineup was mediocre. With the exception of Kenny Pickett (University of Pittsburgh) – perhaps – none of them even deserved to be picked in the first round. There was no safe bet.

With days to go before the draft, there is now talk of the possibility that four or five quarterbacks will find takers in the initial round, or at the latest in the middle of the second.

This skyrocketing in the rating of some young passers is easily explained: no leading quarterback, no chance of winning a Super Bowl. We all know that. But it’s more than that.

In an era where the best quarterbacks earn annual salaries of 40 to 50 million, the possibility of aspiring to the Super Bowl for a few years with a quarterback who is running out of his first contract in the NFL is increasingly attractive. We are talking about an annual saving of 30 or 40 million, which allows teams that have this chance to improve the rest of their training significantly.

There have been plenty of clubs that reached the Super Bowl with a young quarterback who didn’t cost an arm and a leg over the past decade. The Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs lifted the Lombardi Trophy as Russell Wilson (2013) and Patrick Mahomes (2019) were still out of their first contracts. Both teams even reached a second final.

Nick Foles was the starter when the Philadelphia Eagles (2017) won the Super Bowl, but Carson Wentz set them up well with a great “regular” season in his second campaign. Jared Goff (2018) and Joe Burrow (2021) led the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals to the Finals.

Unless you can count on Tom Brady, who has also often accepted less money than he could have obtained in order to allow his team to improve, it is not so easy to build a strong enough formation. to get to the Super Bowl when you pay your quarterback 45 million a year. The Rams proved that it was possible a few months ago, but the option of betting on a young quarterback whose salary will be relatively reasonable in his first four or five seasons is extremely attractive for teams on the circuit.

This year, at least six teams could logically choose a quarterback with their first choice: the Carolina Panthers (6^and choice), the Atlanta Falcons (8^and), Seattle Seahawks (9^and), the Washington Commanders (11^and), New Orleans Saints (16^and and 19^and) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (20^and).

Judging by the experts, there seem to be six or seven quarterbacks who have the potential to be starters in the NFL. Most likely not all of them will succeed, but some of them will. In descending order, here are the quarterbacks expected to be the top seven draft picks this weekend.

7. Bailey Zappe

Bailey Zappe’s rating is not as high as that of the other six quarterbacks discussed in this text. But he had a stellar career at Western Kentucky University, being one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history. The catch is that he hasn’t often faced top-tier college programs, so his stats may be misleading. They say he should be drafted in the third or fourth round. In the right offensive system, Zappe could be an effective quarterback. At the very least, he should become a good reserve player, or even a star player in another league (LCF, USFL or XFL) if he wishes eventually.

6. Carson Strong

Football being what it is these days, mobility is practically essential for a quarterback to be successful. And what comes out of the 2022 crop is that most of the best quarterbacks are mobile and very good athletes. There is one exception, however: Carson Strong of the University of Nevada. A colossus at 6’4″, 225 lbs., Strong has the best arm in the draft according to most experts. He has also succeeded in more than 70% of his passes in 2020 and 2021. The problem is that he is a classic pocket quarterback, who must necessarily be very well protected by his line in order to be successful. . What’s more, he has already suffered a serious knee injury. That being said, the trade publication Lindy’s Sports believes Strong is the second best quarterback in the auction after Kenny Pickett. Fifteen years ago, Strong would probably have been chosen in the top 5 of the draft.

5. Sam Howell

A year ago, Howell was seen as the favorite to be the first player selected, or at the very least, the first quarterback in the 2022 draft. Partly because he lost several of his best wide ends and running backs after the 2021 season, including runner Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos), at the University of Carolina Tar Heels, Howell played worse last season than the previous one and will likely be selected in end of the first round or at the start of the second. Hefty (220 lbs) though not very tall (6’1″), Howell is capable of gaining rushing yards and isn’t afraid to get hit. He’s considered an accurate quarterback for long passes, but according to ESPN Stats & Information, he completed just 33.9 percent of his passes for 20 or more yards last season. He certainly won’t be a quarterback who gets 68 or 70 percent of his passes, but Howell could be a winner who excels when it really matters.

4. Desmond Ridder

Some people have no idea why Ridder isn’t at the top of the experts’ list of the best quarterbacks available. Good size (6’3″ and 210 lbs), more than adequate arm and ability to gain yards on the ground, being a very good athlete. Above all, Ridder has transformed the program for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, who reached the NCAA roster for the first time in franchise history thanks to an immaculate season last fall. Note, however, that against the Crimson Tide of Alabama in the semi-finals, Ridder was not able to generate enough offense to allow his team to hope to win, which could be a prelude to what he awaits in the professional ranks. However, no one will be surprised to see a team choose him in the first half of the initial round on Thursday evening.

3. Matt Corral

Of the seven quarterbacks on that list, Corral was the only one who played in the South East Conference (SEC), by far the strongest conference in the NCAA. Watching him play, it’s hard not to think of Patrick Mahomes. Corral is a very good athlete and he draws very quickly. However, he is a little frail (205 lbs) and only 6’1″ tall. Because he plays with abandon and never hesitates to run with the ball, Corral is susceptible to injury. In fact, he left the Sugar Bowl early in the game, last January, after injuring his ankle. He is said to be the most accurate quarterback in the group when it comes to passing 20 yards or less. The question is whether his NFL transition will be more like Mahomes’ or Johnny Manziel’s. But don’t think Corral will be a problem like Manziel off the field. On the contrary. He’s a warrior, and the team that picks him up won’t have to worry about his desire or effort.

2. Malik Willis

Three months ago, pundits expected Willis to be selected late in the first round at the earliest. Today, he is expected to be the first-ever quarterback drafted and likely a top-six prospect overall. That’s because Willis was brilliant in the Senior Bowl in January and at NFL tryout camp two months ago. Failing to be a constant passer, Willis certainly has the most powerful arm of this vintage and is also the most dangerous with his legs. The combination of his arm power and athleticism is not unlike that of Michael Vick twenty years ago. Willis could become a star quarterback like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen, but could also be a failure if he doesn’t improve his accuracy and reading of the game. Despite his great athleticism, Willis had 51 sacks on the year last… In English, we qualify this kind of hopes as boom or bust.

1. Kenny Pickett

If Willis is the biggest risk among quarterbacks, Pickett is the safest bet. Its floor is high, but its ceiling is lower than those of Willis and Corral. Pickett’s game is often compared to that of Joe Burrow, although he is less talented than the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback. In this sense, we can speak of a house brand Burrow. Pickett’s passes are accurate and he’s capable of getting ground runs. His leadership qualities are evident and he seems well liked by his teammates. In the negatives column is the fact that he is a year older than most other quarterbacks, and his hands are particularly small for a professional quarterback. This is a significant factor that could lead to a high number of escapees. But let’s keep in mind that much the same thing was said about Burrow’s hands two years ago… Pickett may not have the talent to become a superstar, but the odds are strong that he will be a quarter more than respectable in the NFL, which is worth its weight in gold. He will almost certainly be drafted before the middle of the first round.

Sources: Lindy’s SportsESPN, ProFootballTalk, Pro Football Focus