A year ago, three quarterbacks -- Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance -- went in the top three picks in the NFL Draft.
In 2022, there's a legitimate chance that there won't be a single quarterback taken in the top three picks, and perhaps beyond.
Pro Football Focus' top rated quarterback is Matt Corral from Ole Miss, who was No. 16 overall on their November Big Board. Kenny Pickett from Pitt is No. 20.
The Draft Network takes things a step further, as they have Corral as their top-rated quarterback, but just the No. 28 overall prospect in this upcoming class. Pickett is their No. 6 rated quarterback, behind Liberty's Malik Willis, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder, North Carolina's Sam Howell and Nevada's Carson Strong. Pickett -- who exploded as a fifth-year senior at Pitt -- will turn 24 before he plays in a regular season game at the NFL level.
2017 was the last time that the No. 1 overall pick wasn't a quarterback, when the Cleveland Browns selected edge rusher Myles Garrett with the top overall selection.
The last time that a quarterback wasn't selected with one of the top three picks was in 2013, when the top three picks were used on tackles Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel, along with edge rusher Dion Jordan. The first quarterback taken in that year's class was E.J. Manuel, who the Buffalo Bills selected with the No. 16 overall pick. Manuel would play just five seasons in the NFL.
It's a pretty safe bet that at least one quarterback will go off the board before the 16th selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. But could this be the first time in nearly a decade that a quarterback isn't taken with one of the top three picks? It's at least a possibility.
With that in mind, here's our first 2022 NFL Mock Draft:
Matt Corral heads to the Giants in our latest NFL Mock Draft.
Photo credit (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Giants Move On From Daniel Jones, Select Matt Corral
1. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson - Edge Rusher, Michigan
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kayvon Thibodeaux - Edge Rusher, Oregon
3. Houston Texans: Kyle Hamilton - Safety, Notre Dame
4. New York Jets: Evan Neal - Offensive Tackle, Alabama
5. New York Giants: Matt Corral - Quarterback, Ole Miss
It appears likely that Dave Gettleman won't return as the general manager for the Giants in 2022, and if Joe Judge receives a third season as head coach, he'll very much be on the hot seat. We would guess that means that Judge -- and whoever is in charge of player personnel -- move on from Daniel Jones, who has one year remaining on his rookie contract.
The Giants could very well pivot to a veteran quarterback, especially given that Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson could all be available via trade.
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There's also an argument to be made for using this pick on an offensive lineman, so that the next quarterback for the team isn't asked to attempt to develop behind a porous offensive line, like Jones has tried to do.
But if neither of those routes are taken, we're going to project that the Giants are the first team to select a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. In his junior season at Ole Miss, Corral tossed 20 touchdowns to four interceptions, while also rushing for 597 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Kenny Pickett is the second quarterback taken in the top 10 in this year's NFL Draft.
Photo credit (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Desperate for a Quarterback, David Tepper’s Panthers Select Kenny Pickett
6. New York Giants: George Karlaftis - Edge Rusher, Purdue
7. New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr. - Cornerback, LSU
8. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett - Quarterback, Pitt
9. Atlanta Falcons: DeMarvin Leal - Interior Defensive Line, Texas A&M
10. Philadelphia Eagles: David Ojabo - Edge Rusher, Michigan
To say that Panthers owner David Tepper has been impatient in his search for a franchise quarterback would be putting it lightly, just ask Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold.
So while we would bet that they'll make a heavy push for any of the veteran quarterbacks that could become available via trade this offseason, drafting a quarterback on a rookie contract might be their best play given that they will be stuck with Darnold's $18.58 million fifth-year option in 2022.
Pickett landing with either Pennsylvania team would be a great story. He's obviously played collegiately at Pitt, so the connection to the quarterback-needy Steelers is clear. But he said he grew up a big fan of the Eagles, so if they're prepared to move on from Jalen Hurts this offseason -- which we don't know if they will be -- Pickett going to Philadelphia would be pretty fun.
Ultimately, though, we're going to project that Pickett is off the board by then, taken by Matt Rhule (??) and the Panthers. Pickett being 24 for his rookie season isn't ideal, but if a team was willing to use a first-round pick on Brandon Weeden at 27, one will certainly be willing to do so on Pickett if they think he can provide stability at the most important position in sports.
Garrett Wilson is the top wide receiver taken in our NFL Mock Draft.
Photo credit (Gaelen Morse/Getty Images)
Saints Add Juice to Their Wide Receiving Corps
11. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenyon Green - Interior Offensive Lineman, Texas A&M
12. Minnesota Vikings: Nakobe Dean - Linebacker, Georgia
13. New Orleans Saints: Garrett Wilson - Wide Receiver, Ohio State
14. Las Vegas Raiders: Jameson Williams - Wide Receiver, Alabama
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ikem Ekwonu - Offensive Tackle, N.C. State
The Saints are one of many teams that would probably love to be in position to select a future star quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft, but they may be hard-pressed to do so.
Whether it's Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston or someone else playing quarterback for the Saints next season, Sean Payton's squad desperately needs to upgrade at wide receiver. For as dominant as he was during his first four seasons, it's hard to envision Michael Thomas ever playing for the Saints again, and his absence in 2021 has been glaring.
There's a real chance that any of the top three wide receivers in last year's class -- Ja'Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith -- would be taken first if they were in the 2022 class. As is, any of Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, Chris Olave or Drake London could be the first wide receiver off the board in the 2022 class.
For now, we're going to project that the Saints select Wilson, a 21-year-old who had 70 catches for 1,058 yards and 13 total touchdowns in his junior season at Ohio State. Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network says that Wilson "is a dynamic threat with the ball in his hands and offers the kind of run after catch ability that is sure to command a role at the NFL level."
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