The time has come and gone for college players to declare for the 2022 NFL draft. Now, we know all of the players eligible for the upcoming draft, making mock drafts more realistic now that there is no speculation if players will turn pro or not.
Most early mock drafts have the Washington Football Team going quarterback at No. 11. That’s the smart pick at this point. While most believe Washington will swing for the fences this offseason at landing a veteran quarterback, that’s far from a certainty.
If Washington misses on a veteran passer, it’s almost a lock the WFT will be picking the quarterback market for the first round of the draft.
This week, ESPN’s NFL draft guru, Mel Kiper Jr., released his first mock draft of the season. He has Washington landing Liberty quarterback Malik Willis at No. 11.
NFL Network draft guru, Daniel Jeremiah, released his first mock draft Friday, and, surprise, he also goes with a quarterback.
Jeremiah has three quarterbacks going in the first round, with Pitt’s Kenny Pickett as the first one off the board at No. 9 to the Broncos.
His pick for Washington? Ole Miss QB Matt Corral.
Corral is a playmaker at the position. His size (6-2, 205) is a concern for some around the league, but he’s accurate, has a live arm and would bring some juice to the offense.
As for the highest upside, Corral and Willis are your best bets in this class. Willis has a higher ceiling than every quarterback prospect, but there are concerns with his accuracy and decision-making. If he shows improvement in those areas, Wilis can be a franchise passer.
Corral is also a good athlete who has continued to improve in each of his last two seasons working under Lane Kiffin. There are concerns about his size and how quickly he can go through progressions at the next level. But Corral is a good athlete with a strong arm who improved in multiple areas in 2021, playing in the SEC.