Quarterbacks go higher than expected in recent 2022 NFL mock draft

With several teams desperate for franchise quarterbacks, these organizations reach for need in this recent 2022 NFL mock draft. 

The 2022 NFL offseason has been quite eventful. Franchise quarterbacks are switching teams while star players on both sides of the football like Khalil Mack and Davante Adams have been dealt. Most recently, electrifying wide receiver Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins.

With so much background noise, fans are trying not to lose sight of the all-important 2022 NFL Draft just around the corner. The closer we get to April, the more shake-ups we have seen on draft boards.

The results of the NFL Combine brought many of these. However, Pro Days are now really starting to shift where NFL Draft experts have players landing in the first round. Recently, quarterbacks Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett held their Pro Days in front of a packed house of NFL coaches and personnel. Both were impressive in their workouts, and the latest word on the street is that Pickett and Willis could very well land inside the top-10.

In a recent NFL mock draft by CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, this is exactly what happens. Prisco has Pickett as the first QB off the board to the Carolina Panthers with the 6th overall pick, while Malik Willis is taken just two picks later by the Atlanta Falcons.

As a result of these quarterbacks going early, Prisco has the Steelers going with Ole Miss signal-caller, Matt Corral. It’s easy to see how a scenario like this could play out.

Recent NFL mock draft holds truth

While we can’t expect Prisco to be correct with even half of these picks, there’s a very real chance the 2022 NFL Draft could play out in similar fashion. It seems like teams are starting to become very high on a few of these quarterback prospects, and history has shown that this position gets drafter higher than expected.

What makes this a tricky evaluation is that most NFL Draft experts have second-round grades on this group of quarterbacks. However, that isn’t going to stop quarterback-needy teams from pulling the trigger if they really like a guy.

In fact, I would go as far as to say that a quarterback could be drafted with the number two overall pick this year — whether that is the Detroit Lions taking someone like Malik Willis or another team jumping up to make sure they secure their man.

In another recent NFL mock draft by The Draft Wire, Luke Estering has the Falcons with the Jaguars to acquire the first overall pick for QB Malik Willis. While this seems like overkill, teams will do whatever they can to make sure they have their franchise quarterback in place.

When it’s all said and done, I think there are two quarterbacks who will go inside the top-10 picks and as many as four selected in the first round this year. This may not be a strong QB class, but teams will always reach for the most important position in football.