We saw a bit of a run of quarterbacks on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft after Kenny Pickett became the only quarterback to come off the board during Round 1. There’s a good chance we could see several signal-callers selected by teams once more in the final day of the event.
Here’s a look into each quarterback who got drafted on Day 2 and how they fit into their teams:
- Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati – Atlanta Falcons, No. 74
Ridder has been praised for his football IQ and Head Coach Arthur Smith runs a complicated scheme, so this is a match made in heaven on that particular note. There’s also a good chance the Falcons also make use of the underrated athleticism Ridder fully showcased at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine when he recorded a 4.52-second 40-yard dash time. I asked Ridder in an interview ahead of the Draft about how he could potentially be a Marcus Mariota type of quarterback if put in the right situation to do so and he seemed to see the similarities to the quarterback with which he now shares a room.
“If we ran a no-huddle, up-tempo offense, I think people might see me (like Marcus Mariota),” Ridder said. “I’ve looked at Marcus Mariota ever since I was growing up watching him at Oregon and watching him win the Heisman and having an NFL career. It’s been fun seeing someone who kind of has body-type similarities to me have success.”
It will be interesting to see how this pans out but the Falcons as getting a signal-caller with arguably the highest level of foundational traits in this draft class.
- Malik Willis, Liberty – Tennessee Titans, No. 86
So many of us thought that Willis would be a first-rounder, taken between picks 2-6. That wasn’t at all the case as the former Flames signal-caller fell all the way to the third round. This truly is a phenomenal thing for the Titans, though.
The team gains a quarterback with a sky-high ceiling. If he hits it, he will quickly become one of the best quarterbacks in the league. But this is the note to be made about Willis: he is a one of two extremes type of player. There does not seem to be a middle ground for him. He will either achieve what some believe he can or go bust quickly. This is definitely a quarterback the Titans can use running play-action and designed quarterback runs if desired. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a lackluster year in 2021 and if he continues that type of play, Willis could push him. For now, he projects as a promising backup with tremendous starting potential if he becomes what some think he can be.
- Matt Corral, Ole Miss – Carolina Panthers, No. 94
Corral didn’t receive as much attention as some of the other quarterbacks did during the pre-draft process because he didn’t meet the eligibility criteria to be included in the Senior Bowl and he elected not to throw at the combine after being affected by a lower-body injury from the Sugar Bowl.
With a team that is lacking overall at quarterback, Corral brings a high level of arm strength, much-improved year-over-year accuracy and decision-making, and a tough type of get-it-done mobility. This is a signal-caller with a wide skillset who should be able to fit well and make a name for himself in Carolina.
Corral told me a day ahead of him being drafted that he wouldn’t exactly consider himself underrated but that he didn’t get a chance to show off his abilities the same way as some of the other prospects due to extenuating circumstances. It’s prove-it time and Corral has shown he has the potential to do just that.
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