Will QB1 In The 2022 NFL Draft Class Please Stand Up?

Through three full weeks of college football, a conundrum exists revolving around the 2022 NFL Draft. After a couple years of being spoiled at the position, the quarterback class is one that is still muddled.

Coming into the season, it looked like Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler was the top guy in the class, with Nevada’s Carson Strong and North Carolina’s Sam Howell behind him. Malik Willis, Matt Corral, Kedon Slovis, and Desmond Ridder were all considered “wild cards” in the class, players who had high variance in their 2020 performances but could take the leap with a strong season. Then, there were the sleepers, including Phil Jurkovec, Kaleb Eleby, and for some, Emory Jones. With three weeks of play done, there really hasn’t been a player who has separated themselves.

Will QB1 in the 2022 NFL Draft class please stand up?

Rattler has struggled with decision making, and he’s still forcing throws into tight coverage, sometimes double and triple coverage, on plays that result in turnovers (he had two INTs against Nebraska). His footwork is still a work in progress as well. Yes, the arm talent is still very good, but he hasn’t progressed in the right direction.

Howell has had similar issues. He had a rough outing against the Hokies, but there was still trust building with his new starting receivers and backs, and the offensive line isn’t great. He threw for five touchdowns against Virginia this past week, but he threw another rough interception. Howell needs to have patience and not force the issue, and needs to work on touch on shorter and intermediate throws.

Ridder has had a couple big performances, but against Indiana on Saturday he didn’t look very good. The accuracy was wild at best, and he missed easy throws short and threw off his back foot when pressure was in his face. The accuracy isn’t there, and he’s hanging his hat on arm talent and mobility.

Corral leads the group that’s progressing in a positive direction. A player who had excellent throws and boneheaded throws littered through his 2020 tape, Corral has limited mistakes and taken a step forward. He’s put some money throws on tape, especially against Louisville, and had a monster game against Tulane, where he recorded seven total touchdowns. Corral can hit at all levels, challenge tight windows, and work outside the numbers.

Willis has looked good as well to this point. His accuracy has looked much better thus far, and he obviously has the lethal ability to extend plays and dominate as a runner. The arm strength is very good, so a bump in accuracy could find him well in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He gets a big game against Syracuse this coming week.

Then there’s Strong, who may be steadily working towards the “QB1” title for the 2022 NFL Draft. His poise, downfield accuracy, and pre-snap work make him look like a player who is in complete control. He’s performed well against Cal and Kansas State, the two power five teams on the Wolfpack schedule.

With Rattler and Howell, players who sat atop the preseason rankings, trending down, and guys like Corral and Willis trending up (with Strong staying steady), it’s hard to point out who has the true lead in the “QB1” race in the 2022 NFL Draft. The best arguments look like Strong and Corral, but Rattler could easily turn things around, as could Howell. Willis could make the leap beyond everyone as well.

The class won’t rival the past two classes, but someone will take advantage and be selected highly with young quarterback demand sitting at an all-time high. There’s plenty of season to go, so someone will vault themselves into the top spot. Until then, let’s enjoy the chaos surrounding this position group and the week-to-week discourse.