The quarterback class in the 2022 NFL Draft may not seem strong in relation to other years, and for some it might lack true star power. Liberty's Malik Willis, Pitt's Kenny Pickett and Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder did their best to change that during their work on and off the field at the NFL Combine.
Willis continued to gain momentum as the top QB prospect, Pickett proved why his arm and legs more than compensate for any concern about his hand size. Ridder jumped up into surefire first-round status with his athleticism. They took full advantage of the opportunity to boost their stock while Ole Miss' Matt Corral, still recovering from an ankle injury, didn't participate in the testing or passing drills.
Here's look at what Willis, Pickett, Ridder and three other notable prospects did in their throwing and running Thursday night in Indianapolis:
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NFL Combine results 2022: Quarterback workouts
Malik Willis, Liberty (6-0, 219 pounds, 9 1/2-inch hands)
Willis didn't run because he didn't need to prove to anyone he's a dynamic athlete; his college tape speaks for itself. He did throw, and, boy, did he throw. Willis put on aerial display at Lucas Oil Stadium, ripping off elite deep balls out of a relaxed delivery. It was his first of many NFL highlight reels, with the dazzle he provided while connecting with some of the top wide receivers in the class.
Teams are starting to forget about Willis' lack of ideal height and looking at his makeup and limitless potential. Not only did he interview well and impress evaluators with his knowledge of varied offensive schemes, reports say his intangibles may have stood out more than his arm, capped by the viral video of Willis participating in an unbelievable act of kindness by giving what he could to a man in need while walking down the street in Indianapolis.
No QB will be going No. 1 overall in this draft because the Jaguars have Trevor Lawrence. Sporting News had Willis going No. 11 to the Commanders in the latest 2022 mock draft. Willis should now get a lot more top-10 consideration from the Texans (No. 3), Giants (Nos. 5 and 7), Panthers (No. 6) and Broncos (No. 9).
Kenny Pickett, Pitt (6-3, 217 pounds, 8 5/8-inch hands)
Willis vs. Pickett comes down to the familiar debate of high ceiling later vs. high floor now. Willis might need time to fully tap into his upside, while Pickett is more seasoned and "pro-ready" based on his college playing experience.
Pickett did choose to run, and he backed up his confidence with a 4.73 40-yard dash. He is a great athlete for his size, and he matches Willis' calm, confident demeanor with just the right amount of cockiness. When he was throwing, Pickett showed off strong touch and accuracy as he completed passes at different levels of the field. Pickett is a well-rounded, savvy QB who will thrive with the right support system that maximizes his moxie and passing versatility.
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (6-3, 211 pounds, 10-inch hands)
Ridder was ridiculous in the agility drills, with his QB-best 4.52 40 serving as the exclamation point. He has become a hybrid of Willis and Pickett. Ridder also left a great impression on teams in interviews with his intangibles, especially his maturity, which is natural for a seasoned college starter with his leadership qualities.
Ridder didn't have the same "Wow" moments with his arm that Willis did, and he wasn't as accurate in making all the throws the way Pickett was. But he did more than enough overall to make himself the No. 3 QB on the board. Given the high number of QB-needy teams, Willis, Pickett and Ridder should all be gone by No. 20 overall, or when the post-Ben Roethlisberger Steelers pick.
Sam Howell, North Carolina (6-1, 218 pounds, 9 1/8-inch hands)
Howell passed on non-throwing testing; he plans to save that for his pro day later in March. He started out OK in throwing drills, but his deep balls were disappointing and then he quickly lost touch and accuracy on shorter throws.
There's a strong enough resume from his play with the Tar Heels to keep him from slipping too much lower than the middle of the second round. But he confirmed Thursday that he's not a Night 1 prospect.
Carson Strong, Nevada (6-3, 226 pounds, 9 1/8-inch hands)
Strong's calling card is, appropriately, his arm strength, and he did throw plenty of pretty downfield balls during his throwing session. But there are lingering questions about just how mobile and athletic he is, given he has already dealt with multiple knee surgeries. He also needs better touch on short and intermediate passes. Strong is a borderline second-round pick based on his physical upside.
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky (6-0 1/2, 215 pounds, 9 3/4-inch hands)
Zappe was prolific throwing in a spread attack in college. He is used to making all the throws, but between the measurements, limited athleticism and inconsistency with passing, he needs to do a lot of work to earn consideration as an NFL starter. Zappe does have the makeup to be a long-term backup and there is some developmental intrigue, but he's a late third-rounder at best, a mid-fifth-rounder at worst.
