We’re under a week until rookies take the podium and the 2022 NFL Draft begins. Teams will look to change their trajectory, and fantasy managers will watch for opportunities for their upcoming seasons. While this quarterback draft class certainly isn’t as robust as previous years, there are still signal-callers you need to know entering the 2022 NFL Draft. Here’s a look at the top five quarterbacks of the 2022 NFL Draft class.
Willis impressed teams at the Combine with his overall offensive knowledge, ability to retain offensive info, and play-calls for the position.
He also showcased his big arm at Liberty’s pro day with several NFL executives and coaches closely watching. Willis finished the 2021 season as PFF’s fourth-highest-graded passer on throws of 20-plus air yards.
His dual-threat ability — he averaged nearly 100 rushing yards per game over the last two seasons — mimics a younger Russell Wilson, so it’s no wonder a team like Seattle is so high on the incoming rookie quarterback.
Pickett finished third in PFF passing grade from a clean pocket (94.3) and first in his class in adjusted completion percentage (79%) during his 2021 breakout season.
Corral rallied Ole Miss to a 10-2 record while finishing third in the SEC in passing yards (3,343) and 11th in the nation in PFF passing grade from a clean pocket (91.6). Corral’s expected throw air time is the lowest in the class, which is a reflection of his quick release and imposing arm strength.
He also rushed for nearly 750 yards and 11 scores. It’s that dual-threat ability that fantasy football dynasty managers should be looking to invest in for years down the line. He could make some noise in an offense littered with playmakers.
Howell earned the starting quarterback job at North Carolina as a 19-year-old true freshman and never looked back. He finished fourth in the FBS with 38 touchdown passes in his first season, putting himself on the NFL radar.
He followed up that impressive introduction with an even more dominant performance as a passer in 2020, finishing as the nation’s sixth-highest-graded quarterback (92.3) and fourth-best deep passer (98.0) in an offense littered with future NFL talent.
Ridder made a strong NFL push uring his senior season, leading Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff against Alabama. PFF’s seventh-highest-graded 2022 draft-eligible quarterback then turned heads at the 2022 Senior Bowl, showcasing accuracy and polish.
Ridder also offers juice with his legs, having rushed for over 2,700 yards during his four-year career (58 per game). His athleticism was at the forefront of his testing at the NFL Combine.
The Bearcats quarterback ran a 4.52 40-yard dash (96th percentile) and jumped a 36-inch vertical (92nd percentile) and 127-inch broad jump (98th percentile).
With speed and predictive passing metrics working in his favor — Ridder was a 97th percentile passer on early downs, per PFF (91.0) — the Cincinnati product possesses all the ingredients to become a fantasy-friendly quarterback at the next level.
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