With the 2022 NFL Draft rapidly approaching, teams are putting final touches on their draft big board while fans and analysts are involved in heavy debate.
The scouting combine and pro days are complete and many big free agency moves having already taken place — it's now important to shift our focus to the top quarterback prospects and how they are currently ranked.
Our own expert, Ryan McCrystal, has three total quarterbacks going in the first and second rounds with his latest NFL mock draft.
Ahead of the draft on April 18th, let's take a look at the top 10 quarterbacks from Sports Info Solution's NFL Draft hub:
1. Malik Willis, Liberty University
Malik Willis leads the spread offense for the Liberty Flames, while working exclusively out of the shotgun. Liberty runs a good amount of RPO concepts, but it loves to utilize the quick game and set up deep shots down the field.
Willis transferred to Liberty after spending his first 2 seasons at Auburn. He played in 15 games over those 2 seasons. He sat out the 2019 season before starting all 23 games for the Flames the last 2 seasons. Early in the 2020 season, Willis suffered an elbow injury that caused him to wear an arm brace on his non-throwing arm.
Willis has an above-average but sturdy frame, and has a thick lower half. He has some twitch in his lower half, and has exceptional speed and burst. More often than not, Willis looks like the best athlete on the field.
Willis’ competitiveness shows in his eagerness to always try and make a play, and he’s a tough runner who can take some hard body blows. Willis has received rave reviews regarding his personality and leadership both on and off the field that should translate to the next level.
2. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Kenny Pickett is the quarterback for Pittsburgh’s up-tempo, pass-heavy, spread attack. He mainly works out of the shotgun, but it’s not uncommon for him to go under center on occasion.
It should be noted that he wears a glove on his throwing hand. He started 49 of 52 games for the Panthers during his career, and will be 24 years old his rookie season.
He missed a game in 2019 with a shoulder injury and 2 games in 2020 with an ankle that eventually required surgery. He’s a good athlete with the size and frame required for the next level. He’s a leader on and off the field who plays hard and competes on every down.
3. Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Matt Corral is the quarterback for Ole Miss and its high tempo, RPO-heavy offense. He has almost exclusively worked out of shotgun but will occasionally operate from under center. Corral has played in 37 games and started 27, including all 23 the past two seasons.
He has missed some game time with multiple minor injuries through his career due to his rugged playing style for a quarterback, including bruised ribs and multiple ankle injuries, the last of which knocked him out of his final collegiate game.
Corral has a somewhat slight frame for the position, but generally makes up for it with his athletic ability. He’s a good leader, possesses strong instincts, and is an overall fierce competitor on the field.
4. Sam Howell, North Carolina
Sam Howell is the quarterback for North Carolina’s RPO-heavy offense that mainly runs out of the shotgun and focuses on getting the ball out quickly. He has started all 37 of the games he played in over the last 3 seasons for the Tar Heels.
He missed 1 game during the 2021 season with an upper-body injury. He has a shorter, but solid frame. His body composition will be sufficient for the next level facing top competition.
He plays tough despite his size, and is a competitor at quarterback.
5. Carson Strong, Nevada
Carson Strong plays quarterback for Nevada’s spread-heavy offense. Nevada operates out of shotgun and normally in 11 personnel.
Strong started 31 of the 32 games he played in for the Wolfpack. Strong missed his senior year of high school when an MRI revealed an issue with blood flow to his knee causing the outside of his femur, near his knee, to depreciate.
He is still dealing with the issue as his knee has required two additional surgeries since then. Strong has the ideal physical size for a quarterback, but isn’t especially mobile or athletic, mostly due to the knee injury. However, he does compete and plays hard.
6. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
Desmond Ridder is a right-handed quarterback in Cincinnati’s read-option based, spread offense. He aligns almost exclusively out of shotgun, executing lots of short drops and timing routes.
He played in 50 career games and is 3rd in FBS history with 44 wins as a starter. He has good height and sufficient size for the position with an even build and good athletic ability.
He shows good leadership on the field, with a cool and calm demeanor. He shows toughness and is quick to encourage his teammates.
7. Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky
Bailey Zappe is the quarterback in Western Kentucky’s Air Raid offense that focuses on screens, RPOs, and getting the ball out quickly. He started 50 of the 51 games he played during his career, 14 of which came at the FBS level.
He played out his first 4 seasons at Houston Baptist before completing his final season with the Hilltoppers. He’s a little on the shorter side, but has a good build that allows him to take hits.
He’s a sufficient athlete who plays hard, competes, and is a leader out on the field.
8. EJ Perry, Brown University
EJ Perry is the quarterback in Brown’s spread offense. He spent 2 seasons at Boston College where he appeared in 6 games before transferring to Brown for his final 3 seasons.
He has started in all 20 games in his career at Brown, with the 2020 season being canceled across the Ivy League. After the 2019 season, he had labrum surgery on his right shoulder.
He has sufficient size for the position, and his athleticism shows with his ability to extend plays. He is the leader of the offense and plays with poise and confidence to move the ball down the field.
9. Cole Kelley, Southeastern Louisiana
Cole Kelley is the quarterback in Southeastern Louisiana’s pass-heavy, spread offense. He spent the first 3 seasons of his college career at Arkansas, playing in 18 games with 6 starts before transferring to SLU for his final 3 seasons.
In all, he started 26 of 51 games during his career. A 2-year starter at SLU, Kelley won the Walter Payton Award in 2020 as the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS.
He’s also already 24 years old and will turn 25 in the middle of his rookie season. Kelley has a towering frame at the position with a strong upper body and is a sufficient athlete as well. He is a tough competitor and has shown his leadership and competitiveness on the field.
10. Brock Purdy, Iowa State
Brock Purdy is the experienced and durable quarterback for Iowa State’s RPO, quick-passing offense. He played in 48 games, starting 46 of them during his career with the Cyclones.
He possesses good athleticism for the position, showing the ability to evade defenders in the pocket and as a runner. His body composition has significantly improved during his time at Iowa State, and it shows with his tough, lead-by-example style, helping him become one of the team leaders for the past 4 seasons.
Purdy fights for every yard on the football field, and despite physical limitations, is one of the toughest players on the field.
Prospect scouting reports provided by Sports Info Solution.
1st Overall Pick Odds, 2022 NFL Draft
| Player | Draft Odds | College | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travon Walker | -300 | Georgia | EDGE |
| Aidan Hutchinson | +300 | Michigan | EDGE |
| Ikem Ekwonu | +400 | NC State | OT |
| Evan Neal | +2000 | Alabama | OT |
| Desmond Ridder | +3000 | Cincinnati | QB |
| Kayvon Thibodeaux | +5000 | Oregon | EDGE |
| Malik Willis | +5000 | Liberty | QB |
| Charles Cross | +10000 | Miss.State | OT |
| Ahmad Gardner | +10000 | Cincinnati | CB |
| Jordan Davis | +10000 | Georgia | DL |
| Derek Stingley | +15000 | LSU | CB |
| Kyle Hamilton | +15000 | Notre Dame | S |
| Matt Corral | +15000 | Ole Miss | QB |
| Sam Howell | +20000 | N. Carolina | QB |
| Garrett Wilson | +20000 | Ohio State | WR |
| Tyler Linderbaum | +20000 | Iowa | IOL |
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