NFL Draft: 2022 Senior Bowl will feature a remarkable deep QB group

The Senior Bowl has big implications on the 2022 NFL Draft. Here’s why there could be an epic battle among the incredibly deep group of quarterbacks.

I think most NFL Draft experts would agree that there isn’t an elite quarterback prospect set to enter the league in 2022. Some have gone as far as to say that this is the worst class since EJ Manuel and Geno Smith were the first two quarterbacks selected in 2013.

I don’t agree that this QB class is half as bad as some are making it out to be. While there may not be a slam-dunk prospect this year that any team would feel good about drafting inside the top five picks, this is a remarkable deep group of quarterbacks, and I would not be surprised to see five of them off the board in the first 40 picks this April.NFL

What makes this class particularly interesting is that five of the top six quarterback prospects will be competing in the 2022 Resse’s Senior Bowl this year (Ole Miss QB Matt Corral being the only exception, as he did not graduate from college in time).

We rarely see years where this many passers who could be drafted inside the first two rounds attend the Senior Bowl. In most years, several of the top quarterback prospects are underclassmen and aren’t given this opportunity.

Though Sam Howell is a 21-year-old underclassman, he was able to graduate from North Carolina a year early in order to attend the 2022 Senior Bowl.

QB performances at Senior Bowl will impact the NFL Draft

Because there are so many quality passers set to compete against each other at the 2022 Senior Bowl, these players will have a chance to improve or hurt their draft stock this offseason. With the quarterbacks all on the field going through the motions at the same time, scouts will really be able to get a good feel for which quarterbacks have the biggest arms and the most precision.

Someone like Howell could be at an advantage here. If he can show that his ball placement is consistent during drills, we know that his arm is big enough to impress scouts and NFL personnel. Malik Willis is in the same boat with his interesting skill set.

The other quarterbacks who will be in attendance include Nevada’s Carson Strong, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, and Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe. Many draft analysts believe that all six of the quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl could be off the board by the third round, with several being taken in round one.

In the past, players like Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott were recognized for their strong performances at the Senior Bowl, and others will have the chance to do the same in 2022.

I have never been more interested in such a deep group of quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl this year. With so many of them currently in the same range as prospects, it will be interesting to see which QB can separate themselves from the pack.