The 2022 NFL draft has some blue-chip prospects, but none of them play the game’s most important position.
How long will be have to wait to hear a quarterback’s name called when next April rolls around?
In the latest 2022 NFL mock draft from CBS Sports, the first passer doesn’t come off the board until the No. 10 overall pick, where the Denver Broncos grab Mississippi’s Matt Corral.
“I think Matt Corral is the most ready to contribute to an NFL team right now,” CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards says of the pick. “Corral and Nevada’s Carson Strong have shown maturity and improved decision-making, which has them sticking out to me. I think Corral is more in line with what a lot of teams are looking for right now.
Strong isn’t the next quarterback selected in Edwards’ mock, though. That would be North Carolina’s Sam Howell, who lands with the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 15 overall.
“Let’s be honest, Pittsburgh has to make a change at quarterback and we are not projecting veteran trades, so that means it addresses it in the draft,” Edwards says. “Sam Howell is never going to be one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, but I think he can consistently be the player the Steelers need to play complementary football.”
In fact, Strong doesn’t even crack the first round in this projection, as Liberty’s Malik Willis (No. 30 overall, Detroit Lions) is the only other quarterback selected the rest of the way.
Some other surprises in this mock include a center going in the top five (Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum, No. 5 overall, New York Giants), Michigan edge defender Aidan Hutchinson (No. 12 overall, Atlanta Falcons) and Florida CB Kaiir Elam (No. 32 overall, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) going later than usual, and Central Michigan offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann leaping into the first round (No. 28 overall, Baltimore Ravens).
To check out the full first-round projection at CBS Sports, click here.
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