2022 NFL Draft: QBs soaring and sliding after week one

The 2022 NFL Draft may not have a Trevor Lawrence, but there’s definite QB intrigue. Which QBs are soaring and which are sliding after week one?

The top prospects at the quarterback position in the 2022 NFL Draft, at least two of the top preseason favorites to contend for the QB1 title, did not play all that well in week one of the college football season.

There were still a number of quarterbacks from all over the country that had huge performances in week one and did everything they could to maintain or boost their 2022 NFL Draft stock as the college football season officially got underway for most teams.

My most recent mock draft had North Carolina’s Sam Howell going number one overall to the Houston Texans, and while he could still find his way into that spot, there is clearly going to be competition for the QB1 title and every spot behind that.

Last year at this time, it was Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, and Trey Lance. Zach Wilson and Mac Jones joined the first-round party as the year progressed. Which quarterbacks will distinguish themselves? How did some of the top guys look in week one?

Let’s take a deep dive into some of the top QB prospects around the country and how they played.

2022 NFL Draft: QB stock report after week one

1. Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma

Stock: DOWN

Baker Mayfield was a Heisman winner and the top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Kyler Murray was a Heisman winner and the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Jalen Hurts was a Heisman contender and a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Expectations are high for Spencer Rattler under Lincoln Riley, and he undoubtedly knows/feels that. Unfortunately, it looked like Rattler was trying to turn the hype into reality and he tried a little too hard.

Everyone wants Rattler to be Kyler Murray so badly, but I’m just not so sure that’s going to be the case.

He will undoubtedly bounce back from this performance — he completed 30-of-39 passes for over 300 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions (also added a rushing touchdown) — but let’s not forget that Rattler was benched at one point last season.

He’s shown a lot of really great things with his arm talent, ability to spread the ball around the field, and his natural playmaking ability that is somewhat reminiscent of Murray.

He’s simply just not the same type of athlete or on the same type of level as Murray when it comes to creating offense as both a passer and runner.

Rattler has skills and shouldn’t be written off, by any means, but this was not a great start for him at all.