NFL Betting: Top 5 Quarterback Prospects In 2022 NFL Draft

The NFL draft is here, and the focus on quarterbacks will offer one of the more intriguing elements of this particular draft. In most years, quarterbacks would be the main point of discussion, with at least one if not two picks likely to come in the top 10. This year, there is no top-10 quarterback for one of the weakest QB classes we have seen in some time. It’s not sexy, but it does create a lot of genuine speculation and uncertainty about the draft, which raises the stakes for any team hoping to find a quarterback. This is not a good year to be in search of a quarterback, but that also means that if a team can find a steal – an unexpected surprise – it would pull off one of the greatest draft heists of all time. The big question is ultimately which team will try to make a splash with a quarterback, and when that pick will happen. It probably won’t be until the second round. At any rate, let’s look at five possible quarterback candidates who stand out from the others:

1 – Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Panthers were not expected to win the ACC football championship this past season, but the implosion of the Clemson Tigers left the door wide open for another team to step through the door, and Pitt was it. Kenny Pickett made things happen for the Panthers by slinging the ball all over the field. He racked up big passing stats but was also a very able open-field runner who could scramble to buy time in the pocket while also busting loose for first downs when he couldn’t find anyone open downfield. Pickett’s agility, his ability to get out of the pocket and make something happen when a play breaks down, is his most valuable quality as a quarterback. He doesn’t have elite speed, and the ACC was not very strong last year, but if there’s a team in need of a quarterback, Pickett makes complete sense late in the second round or early in the third.

2 – Matt Corral, Ole Miss

There is no question that Corral can run. He was used a lot as a runner last season by Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. He is very athletic, shifty, and elusive. The problem with asking Corral to run so much is that he got hit plenty of times, and endured multiple injuries which constantly slowed him down. He took a real pounding, and NFL teams are going to be shy about drafting him early for that very reason. The actual athletic quality is considerable, but the injury risk is a real concern.

3 – Malik Willis, Liberty

The dual-threat quarterback from Liberty had a brilliant 2020 season. In 2021, he wasn’t as good, which could scare some NFL teams away from him. Yet, Willis – much like Corral – can make plays with his legs. That will certainly appeal to a few NFL teams who might think about a third- or fourth-round draft selection.

4 – Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bearcats made the College Football Playoff last year. Ridder helped them get there, but he and the Bearcats’ offense were shut down by Alabama in the playoff semifinals in late December. Ridder is mobile and versatile, but his ceiling is not as high as the other three quarterbacks in front of him.

5 – Sam Howell, North Carolina

The North Carolina Tar Heels struggled last year, but mostly because of their defense. Howell struggled to win games consistently, but part of that reality was shaped by the fact that he lost Javonte Williams, the superb running back who played 2021 with the Denver Broncos and now gets to perform alongside Russell Wilson. It will be interesting to see how much Howell is punished for a lot of things which were beyond his control in 2021. There is still a lot of upside in a player who has an NFL arm and should thrive with good pieces around him.