2022 NFL Draft: QB Rankings

1

Strengths

Corral is a good all around QB. Possesses good arm strength and the ability to make all the throws. Can deliver balls into tight windows with good accuracy and velocity, and can throw outside the numbers with touch. While he does have a few kinks to iron out in regards to his accuracy as a whole, his steady improvement, especially this past year, is very encouraging. Corral throws the ball with anticipation, putting the ball where it needs to be before the receiver comes out of his break. Poise in the pocket is good. He is not afraid to stand in the face of pressure to make a play. Athletically, he is a threat. He is able, not only to navigate the pocket, but roll out when he has to. Corral is capable of evading rushers and outrunning them as he looks to extend the play. He can throw on the run and his ability to change up the arm angle allows him to be more creative passing down the field. If nothing is open, he is a threat to pick up chunk yards with his legs.

Weaknesses

He has shown improvement in this area, but his ability to go through his progressions is still a work in progress. Corral has a bad habit of sometimes staring down his target, something he will have to cut out at the next level. Corral is a big play threat, but he will sometimes hold onto the ball too long in search of that shot, leaving himself vulnerable to the rush. There are instances where sensing pressure too late has hurt him. Rushers off the edge have been a cause for concern, especially regarding turnovers, and bad decisions do creep in when he sees pressure late. He had a few passes that he could have stepped into more. In some of these cases, his accuracy was a bit off. Not a major issue, but something there to just iron out.

2

Strengths

Malik Willis is the most physically talented QB in the draft. He combines outstanding athleticism with a cannon of an arm to make for a QB with extreme upside. He has flashed the ability to make any and every throw. Deep down the sideline from the opposite hash, zipped into tight windows with velocity, arching throws with touch — he can make them all. With his mobility, he is a consistent threat to tuck the ball and run. When he does, he often picks up chunk yards. However, he is not limited to being a running QB. He likes to extend the play as a passer as well. He will roll out of the pocket and look for an open man. His ability to throw on the run is pretty good. In the pocket, he has shown willingness to stand in and go through progressions. Additionally, he does well to sense pressure and sidestep it while continuing to look downfield. His ability to throw off balance and with different arm angles help in situations where the pocket might be a bit more crowded.

Weaknesses

Willis has all the tools to be a top player in this league, but consistency has been his biggest issue to this point. He is capable of making all the throws, but accuracy comes and goes at times, especially accuracy down the field. Some work on his mechanics should be able to help him in this area. Willis also needs to use better judgement when deciding how much strength he puts into his passes. At times, he is better off easing up a little and throwing with more touch. These instances were often on shorter passes where he would make things challenging for his receiver when he didn’t need to. His decision making can come into question at times, as he will either hold the ball too long or make an errant throw in search of a big play. Staring down his target is also an issue that pops up from time to time.

3

Strengths

Arm isn’t elite, but he’s got more than enough to generate enough velocity for tight window passes. Howell is a tough player who plays his game with an edge. Pressure in the pocket doesn’t scare him. He remains calm while he goes through his progressions, and usually does well when attempting to evade rushers in the pocket, whether he is stepping up or side shuffling. He does well to sense pressure coming. Howell is a good athlete who possesses the ability to extend the play outside the pocket and can deliver an accurate pass on the run. When he decides to tuck it and run, he is shifty enough to make people miss, and is able to pick up chunk yards. While you would like him to slide more, his toughness and willingness to do what it takes to win are admirable. Howell consistently delivers a nice ball over the middle and is able to throw outside the numbers, as well.

Weaknesses

Howell can stand to improve his mechanics. His footwork can get sloppy at times, which has an effect on his accuracy. Additionally, when he doesn’t have time to set his feet, throws will sometimes sail high. Decision making is another thing that can improve. Howell often tries to play hero ball, which sometimes results in the ball being put in harm’s way. In the pocket, he is able to sense pressure and get away. However, as he is rolling out, it almost seems like, in his mind, the threat is gone. He needs to be more aware of rushers that continue their pursuit after he escapes their initial rush. As mentioned on the other side, Howell can sometimes put his body on the line a bit too much. At the next level, he’ll definitely need to slide a bit more.

4

Strengths

Toughness stands out right away when watching Pickett. Fearless as a runner and stands strong in the pocket. Has some concerns regarding hand size, but I don’t think it affected his velocity much. He does wear a glove on his right hand, but that is fine as long as it works. Pickett has shown the ability to pass with accuracy at all three levels. When on point, he throws a nice deep ball with touch. Pickett has the arm to make all the throws. Has shown the ability to zip the ball into tight windows and has had some success with passes over the middle. Pickett has the ability to go through his progressions, even if there is a little room for improvement in this area. Athletically, he has the tools you want. He is fast and quick enough to evade pressure in the pocket and roll out if he has to. Further, he is a big threat to pick up yards on the ground. He fights for his yards and will lay it out on the line in big moments.

Weaknesses

Pickett still seems to struggle with some of the mental aspects. Decision making is a question mark at this point. When faced with pressure, there are times where he’ll throw the ball just to get rid of it. On many of these passes, the ball is put into danger. Outside the pocket, his decision making gets worse. In some instances, his eyes are looking at the defender, instead of down the field. Other times, he will force a throw with nothing open, leading to turnovers or turnover worthy plays. Some of these issues Pickett has with pressure also lead to him sensing phantom pressure. In some of these instances, he will check the ball down too early. He has a few inconsistencies with accuracy, and these stem from some bad mechanics. The issue is especially evident on some of the plays where he misses high when trying to drive the ball.

5

Strengths

Ridder is a high upside player with the tools to become a franchise QB. He has the arm to consistently make throws at all three levels. The flashes have been nice. Arching passes with touch down the sideline and passes on a rope with plenty of velocity. He has shown all of it. Ridder also has plenty of athleticism, adding that extra element to his game. He has the ability to evade pressure and has a big enough frame to shake off tackles. As well, he is a threat to pick up yards on the ground and is someone who you can give some designed runs to.

Weaknesses

Ridder is an exciting prospect, but in need of some work, especially when it comes to the mental aspects. Going through progressions is something he will have to adjust to at the pro level, as staring down his targets is not something that will fly very often. His decision making is also something that will need work. Statistically, he wasn’t bad when it comes to turnovers, but he had his fair share of turnover worthy plays due to poor decisions. Playing hero ball is part of the issue. He needs to learn when to give up on a play. As a passer, accuracy is far more general than pinpoint, and it can put his receivers in a tough spot. His footwork can get sloppy at times, especially under pressure, and this will lead to some bad incompletions. In the pocket, Ridder will need to sense pressure better. At times, he would sit there a bit longer than he should, not sensing the rush approaching.

6

Strengths

When watching Strong’s tape, his arm strength is the first thing that stands out. I guess you could say that it is, well, strong. He is able to get a tremendous amount of zip on his passes. Tight window throws are no problem for him. While the passes on a rope pop out often, touch passes with distance are also a strength of his. Strong can launch it down the sideline with plenty of arc. He is not on the run very often, but when throwing on the run, his passes are released with just as much velocity. He doesn’t lose power when throwing on the move. Strong has a big frame and he can be tough to bring down in the pocket. He is not afraid to stand in there in the face of pressure, and he has flashed the ability to navigate around it.

Weaknesses

Strong shows outstanding flashes as a passer, but some mechanical issues can lead to inconsistent accuracy, especially down the field. Decision making can stand to improve. Too many ill-advised throws, with some coming off his back foot. Panicked throws are present. Strong will need to improve his ability to go through progressions at the next level. He had plenty of one read passes where he was staring down his target from the beginning. Athletically, he is below average for what you’d hope for in a modern day QB. He is not someone that can always get away from pressure, and will be more dependent on his o-line. Rolling out isn’t a strength of his, as he is susceptible to get caught from behind. Needless to say, he won’t be picking up many yards on the ground either.

7

Strengths

Lewis isn’t a big player, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as we have seen smaller players have success at the QB position. He is quite mobile, often showing off the ability to buy time and make plays off script. Evading pressure is a strength of his. Defenders have a tough time catching him, even when they come close in the pocket. Lewis can also make plays with his legs beyond the line of scrimmage. On the run, he can go for some pretty big gains. As a passer, he has shown the ability to pass with touch and he has a nice deep ball. As someone who moves around often, throwing on the run and from different platforms is useful, and he is able to do both. Arm strength and velocity aren’t elite, but I’d call them strengths of his, nevertheless.

Weaknesses

Lewis has good mechanics at times, but isn’t consistent with it. He has a tendency to get sloppy with his footwork, which has resulted in over and underthrown passes. When under pressure, he hasn’t consistently been able to show that he can make good decisions. In these situations, he will sometimes quickly force a throw, as opposed to either throwing it away or taking a sack. At other times, he will hang onto the ball for way too long, even after he evades initial rushers. This has led to some unnecessary sacks.

8

Strengths

Eleby is a QB who can thrive when in a rhythm. He is quite accurate at the short-mid level and uses the quick game to move the chains. His arm strength is solid and he shows deep accuracy in flashes, suggesting he has more developmental upside. Eleby is not a runner by any means, but has shown the ability to evade pressure when he has to. He won’t wow you with these kinds of plays, but he does enough.

Weaknesses

Eleby doesn’t always do well when asked to read the field. At this point, he seems much more suited to have the field cut in half for him. He still latches on to his first read on several occasions, and sometimes lets go of it too quickly. Rushed plays are somewhat of a problem. At times, he fails to allocate enough time to get his feet set, leading to missed throws. His accuracy down the field comes in flashes, but consistency isn’t there. Athletically, he is solid, but doesn’t possess enough to be a real off script threat.

9

Strengths

Coan is a smart player who you can trust to manage an offence. He doesn’t often put the ball in harm’s way and, in general, is a good decision maker. He has shown the ability to go through progressions, opening up the entire width of the field. His arm strength is solid, and he is capable of fitting the ball into tight windows with some zip. His accuracy at the short and mid range of the field is good. In the pocket, he does well to stand in the face of pressure. He is able to shuffle around to buy time.

Weaknesses

Coan isn’t the most athletic player and it limits his game. Overall, his awareness in the pocket is good, but sometimes it doesn’t matter, as he doesn’t have the speed to get away. Needless to say, he isn’t much of a threat to pick up yards on the ground, beyond open plays. His footwork in the pocket can be a bit inconsistent, and he doesn’t have the best throwing motion. As a passer, Coan works the short and intermediate levels well, but some of his deep passes lose velocity. As well, his ball placement down the field can be inconsistent.

10

Strengths

Zappe shows good accuracy at the short-mid level of the field. He has put some passes on tape that demonstrate tremendous touch. He is a smart player that is able to navigate around the pocket. When he needs to, he can throw from different arm angles. Zappe turned some heads with one of the best statistical seasons ever in College Football.

Weaknesses

Zappe’s accuracy can be inconsistent in certain stretches. His accuracy is especially inconsistent down the field. His arm strength is underwhelming and a lot of his deep balls die on him in the air. In the pocket, his footwork can be a bit strange, as he’ll sometimes sit flatfooted. This can affect his throwing motion and, in turn, accuracy. As an athlete, Zappe is closer to the mediocre side. He can move around at times, but won’t blow you away with his legs.

11

Strengths

Purdy isn’t a super dynamic athlete, but he does a good job of making plays with his legs. Both in terms of evading pressure and passing outside the pocket, as well as picking up yards on the ground. In the pocket, he makes use of a subtle sidestep that helps him make the initial rusher miss. He has solid accuracy in the short-mid game, and his arm strength is decent as well. Looking at the mental side, Purdy has shown the ability to go through his progressions. He plays the game like he is playing chess over checkers. He does well to look off defenders and he uses pump fakes to his advantage.

Weaknesses

Purdy has solid traits and his running ability flashes on tape. However, his game as a whole can be a bit underwhelming. His tape is littered with check downs and his down field passing is inconsistent. Further, his accuracy as a whole is more general than pinpoint. On deeper throws, the ball tends to lose velocity on him. His footwork in the pocket can be choppy, and he doesn’t always use his lower half to get that extra bit into his throw. In the pocket, he has a tendency to react early to pressure that hasn’t yet arrived. He will roll out prematurely when he instead could have hung in there where the play continued to develop.

12

Strengths

Brown has developmental traits that make him a worth while late round flyer. Arm strength is on the plus side, and he has flashed ability to work all three levels of the field. He is an athletic player and likes to roll out. He has shown willingness to keep his eyes down field and is solid when throwing on the run. Brown is a threat to pick up big gains with his legs, and his mobility allows him to escape the pocket when under pressure. When under pressure, he doesn’t just look to bail. Brown instead does a good job of stepping up when necessary and finding more room for himself in the pocket.

Weaknesses

Brown is still lacking in the accuracy department. General accuracy is decent, but he is not pinpoint, and can also sail some pretty badly. Mechanics play a role in this.Very much a one read QB at this point. Stare downs were present often in his tape, and it will be an adjustment for him, moving up into a league that will ask more of him menatally. Decision making is also questionable, with his fair share of forced throws into traffic.

13

Strengths

Thompson is a smooth, mobile QB. Using his legs is a big part of his game. He handles himself well in the pocket, navigating it and rolling out when he has to. Thompson is a playmaker with his legs once he crosses the line of scrimmage. He has the speed to pile up the yards, and is quick enough to make people miss. In the pocket, he has shown ability to go through his progressions and scan his options. When kept clean, he delivers an accurate pass in the 10-15 yard range. Thompson is a tough player. On various occasions, he has shown willingness to take a hit in order to make a play.

Weaknesses

Thompson at times looks like much more of a runner than a thrower. That’s not to say that he isn’t capable as a passer, inconsistencies in this area, combined with his running ability, make it hard not to come to this conclusion. He will sometimes bail on the play too early and look to run, giving up opportunities for bigger passing plays. On other occasions, he will overextend his stay in the pocket, failing to sense backside pressure. Thompson is much more of a rhythm, short area passer. Downfield passing accuracy is something that can be worked on. At this point, tight window throws don’t happen very much. On occasion, he will also let his pass go without noticing a defender lurking nearby.

14

Strengths

Copper is a developmental QB but has good traits to work with. Good arm strength and is able to fit throws into tight windows. Accuracy is pretty solid in the short-mid range and can be dangerous when he gets in a rhythm. The deep ball has been shown in flashes. Capable of putting it on his receiver in stride both down the sideline and up the middle. He stays calm under pressure and, for the most part, does a good job of sensing it coming. Cooper is dangerous with his legs. He can pick up yards as a runner and also has the speed and quickness to get away from pass rushers closer to home.

Weaknesses

Accuracy is more general than pinpoint. There are instances where his receivers will have to do a bit too much work.Sloppy mechanics and footwork sometimes contribute to passes sailing high. He has ability as a deep passer, but doesn’t seem to take enough shots. Hard to say if this is a confidence issue. Ability to make tight window throws is there, but many of these attempts fell incomplete. Needs to do a better job of controlling his accuracy when he tries to put that extra heat on the ball. This one wasn’t a common occurrence, but there were a few times where he would force a throw when nothing was open.

15

Strengths

Glass has a solid arm and can throw to each level of the field. Decent velocity and he can also put touch on his passes when he needs to. Glass can throw from different angles and his off platform throws are fairly good. He can move the chains at a fast pace when in a rhythm and is effective in the quick passing game. Glass impressed with his performance at the NFLPA Bowl and could see his stock boosted as a result.

Weaknesses

Glass can get lazy with his footwork at times. A lot of his throws are made before he sets his feet, having a big impact on his ball placement. Glass likes to take some chances at imes, which is fine. However, there are instances where he’ll pass up on an open receiver for a much tougher throw. Going for the big play has its benefits, but he needs to do a better job of picking the right time to do this.

16

Strengths

King is a great athlete, routinely showing the ability to evade major threats in the pocket and extend the play. He keeps his eyes downfield as he rolls out, but is also a big threat when he decides to tuck it. He does well when asked to run read options. When given enough time to step into his pass, King has shown that he can get plenty of velocity on his throw. Accuracy has shown improvement and he has become more consistent in the short-mid game.

Weaknesses

King is an overager prospect who has taken much longer than anticipated to develop. It didn’t help when he suffered a torn ACL in 2020. As a passer, his accuracy is wildly inconsistent, especially farther down the field. Mentally, he doesn’t consistently show the ability to go through full field reads, and many of his plays were scripted with 1 or 2 reads. He doesn’t always have a good sense of the pocket, failing to sense pressure until it is too late. His footwork is sloppy on some plays where he rushes his throw. Forced throws can also be an issue at times.

17

Strengths

Milton is a mobile QB with a playmaker’s attitude. He is great off script and his creativity allows for some splash plays. He works the short game well and has flashed ability down the field, as well. Milton suffered a bad injury back in 2018, in which amputation was considered. However, he was able to overcome the odds and make a return to football. His toughness is something that you will never need to question.

Strengths

Milton seemed like a mid round pick before the injury, but he hasn’t quite looked the same since returning. Rust might be a factor, but team’s will likely be iffy at best on risking a draft pick. Accuracy was too spotty and his ball velocity wan’t quite where it used to be either. Part of the reason may be a change in his mechanics. When dropping back to pass, he just looked off at times. Perhaps some more time will allow him to get back to form.