The NFL Draft kicks off in a few hours, and while the 2022 class has gained an underwhelming reputation due to its lack of stellar QB talent, there are plenty of teams looking for upgrades at the position. Where could they land in this 2022 NFL QB Mock Draft?
Pro Football Network decided to take the crystal ball out of storage (it was hidden behind some old Jimmy Buffett records and a lovely oil painting of our own Ian Cummings) to predict where each QB will land in this weekend’s draft.
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2022 NFL QB Mock Draft: Quarterbacks come off the boardÂ
Using the free PFN Mock Draft Simulator with trades, PFN identified who should go where during a busy draft weekend. From Malik Willis to Jack Coan, this 7-Round Mock Draft finds homes for 12 quarterbacks ahead of undrafted free agency.
Round 1, Pick 5 (mock trade) | New Orleans Saints: Malik Willis, Liberty
TRADE: The Saints send the 16th, 18th, and 120th overall picks to the Giants for the fifth overall pick.
The Saints made a huge pre-draft trade to acquire a second first-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles last month. The conventional wisdom is that the Saints made the move to give the organization more flexibility in case a QB fell to a tradable spot.
With the Giants already owning the seventh overall pick, they are more than happy to bounce out of the top 15 to acquire two more first-rounders. The Giants are likely to look for 2023 draft capital with another trade back with one of the picks they’ve acquired in this deal.
But that’s not what we’re here to discuss …
Malik Willis, who has gained a lot of steam during the draft process, makes sense as the apple of the Saints’ eye. With the Carolina Panthers (No. 6) and Atlanta Falcons (No. 8) needing a QB upgrade and picking well before the Saints, New Orleans jumps the line to take the most dynamic prospect at the position. He can comfortably sit behind Jameis Winston until he’s ready to rock in a year or two.
Round 1, Pick 9 | Seattle Seahawks: Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
The Seahawks need a lot of work, but it’s hard to imagine Pete Carroll, 70, waiting around for a rebuild. While Carroll has issued public flattery towards his incumbent QBs, Drew Lock and Geno Smith, the Seahawks can’t scrape together a strong season with either of those guys under center. The Seahawks know that.
With the ninth overall pick, the Seahawks select the most NFL-ready of the QB prospects in Kenny Pickett. While his upside at 24 years old doesn’t seem super high, he’s clearly a worthwhile gamble, given his relatively high floor. Pickett can come in and immediately compete with Smith and Lock and might actually have the edge, despite his lack of pro experience.
Round 1, Pick 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers: Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
The Pittsburgh Steelers are turning the page on the Ben Roethlisberger era. While they signed former first-round pick Mitchell Trubisky to a team-friendly two-year deal in free agency, they should still be open to selecting a QB in Round 1.
Desmond Ridder is a perfect character fit for the Steelers, and his physical upside is intriguing. Ridder was 44-6 as a four-year starter at Cincinnati and turned a middling program into a perennial winner. He’s mature, talented, and has untapped potential as a dual-threat QB.
Round 1, Pick 32 | Detroit Lions: Matt Corral, Mississippi
While his early struggles in college are worth questioning, Matt Corral might have the best natural talent in the class. The Detroit Lions need a long-term QB plan under head coach Dan Campbell, and while Jared Goff is better than his national perception, the franchise needs to plant its flag at the position.
Snagging Corral at No. 32 is key, as he gives the Lions a fifth-year option on his contract. He isn’t likely to start in Year 1 with Goff still around, so having that long-term option is important. The Lions also own the No. 34 pick, so they can easily nab another player they wanted at 32 after just one pick.
Round 2, Pick 43 | Atlanta Falcons: Sam Howell, North Carolina
While Sam Howell has received first-round buzz over the past few weeks, his best value is in the second round. With Marcus Mariota holding down the QB1 fort this year, Howell can sit and learn from the veteran and head coach Arthur Smith for a bit.
Howell has comparable mobility to Mariota, and he has the right temperament to adjust to a situation as a mentee. This could go down as a steal down the road.
Round 4, Pick 122 | Indianapolis Colts: Carson Strong, Nevada
There’s a scene from the critically acclaimed sitcom “The Office” where Andy Bernard, portrayed by Ed Helms, explains how to properly create a Savannah, Ga. accent. He describes it as talking with “molasses dripping out of your mouth.” While Carson Strong doesn’t have a Savanah accent, he surely has a Savannah strut following several knee procedures.
Essentially, Strong is as limited to the pocket as Steven Seagal is limited to direct-to-video flicks.
That said, he is a smart QB who put up impressive numbers at Nevada. He has some arm talent, and he’d be best fit serving as a young backup behind a similarly skilled veteran, like Matt Ryan.
Round 4, Pick 126 | Las Vegas Raiders: Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan
The Las Vegas Raiders have locked up Derek Carr for the long haul. So, Kaleb Eleby would be a long-term developmental QB for Josh McDaniels to tutor.
Eleby put up 3,277 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions last season. He has some upside as a long-term option at the position, and he should be an intriguing project for McDaniels, who is coming off a stellar job with Mac Jones’ rookie year.
Round 4, Pick 131 | Tennessee Titans: Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky
Bailey Zappe put up insane numbers at Western Kentucky last season. While he’s clearly undersized at 6’0″ and 215 pounds, he’s at least intriguing enough to take a fourth-round flier on.
With Ryan Tannehill getting older, this is probably his final year in Nashville. It’d be smart to start developing someone who could compete to be his successor while not rocking the boat in 2022.
Round 6, Pick 189 | Washington Commanders: Brock Purdy, Iowa State
The Washington Commanders seem content with Carson Wentz as their starting QB, and Taylor Heinicke as their sturdy, experienced backup. The last role to fill in the QB room is the young apprentice. Brock Purdy had an excellent career at Iowa State, and he should fit in nicely with Wentz and Heinicke in Landover, Md.
Given his history, Wentz shouldn’t mind a late-round flier, as opposed to actual top-round competition.
Round 6, Pick 196 | Baltimore Ravens: Aqeel Glass, Alabama A&M
At 6’5″ and 215 pounds, Aqeel Glass is an intriguing player at the position. While his HBCU background has been highlighted throughout his draft journey, his impressive college numbers should be getting a bit more buzz. The level of competition isn’t the SEC or ACC, but Glass still put up 10,944 passing yards and 104 passing touchdowns in his four seasons at Alabama A&M.
He doesn’t have the same mobility as Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley. However, he should be able to fit in quite well with the Ravens’ offense as a long-term backup.
Round 7, Pick 237 | Philadelphia Eagles: EJ Perry, Brown
The QB factory is alive and well. The Eagles take a flier on EJ Perry to compete for the No. 3 job against Reid Sinnett. Perry has a bit of Gardner Minshew to him, as he’s undersized, smart, and has an enticing story.
The expectations shouldn’t be high for Perry in Philly, which is a good way to start a tenure in the City of Brotherly Love.
Round 7, Pick 253 | Los Angeles Rams: Jack Coan, Notre Dame
It’s been a while since the Rams took a developmental QB in the draft. Jack Coan makes sense as competition for Bryce Perkins and John Wolford behind Matthew Stafford. While this pick won’t attract headlines, Coan is coming off a season where he threw for 3,150 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. At 6’3″ and 223 pounds, he has solid size for the position.
