Top 5 Quarterbacks in 2022 NFL Draft: Preseason Edition

The 2022 quarterback class might not be quite as talented at the top as it’s predecessor, but there is still a ton of intrigue and talent with this group. There are a ton of quarterbacks in the running to go early in the draft, some of them not even close to hitting their true ceilings even in college. With the college football season right around the corner here are the top five quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft.

5. Phil Jurkovec, Boston College

Phil Jurkovec entering the 2020 college football season was a name almost forgotten about, despite lofty expectations out of high school. A former four-star recruit, Jurkovec was one of Notre Dame’s highest-rated quarterback recruits in recent years. After failing to find playing time stuck behind current New Orleans Saints quarterback Ian Book, Jurkovec transferred to Boston College and immediately made an impact.

The traits that made him such a highly-touted recruit were on full display in Chestnut Hill. Jurkovec is a big quarterback with an arm to match. He is tough, able to stand in the pocket and make the throw despite pressure. An advantage Jukovec has over a lot of quarterbacks is his ability to run a pro-style offense. Jurkovec has made plays under center, able to drop back and make reads. He isn’t saddled with a shotgun/RPO-heavy offense like a lot of college quarterbacks. Jurkovec needs more experience and needs to improve on a few things such as ball placement and getting the ball out quicker, but there’s a chance Jurkovec flies up draft boards by the end of the season.

4. Malik Willis, Liberty

Malik Willis has the tools to be a special quarterback in the NFL. He has the traits of your created player in a video game. He is one of the most dynamic runners since Lamar Jackson at Louisville. The Auburn transfer reached over 900 yards on the ground, finding the end zone with his legs 14 times. He uses his elite athleticism to escape pressure in the pocket, turning would-be sacks into positive yards. The former three-star recruit from Atlanta, Georgia can sling it too. He fires fastballs that would make Randy Johnson smile and can hit any throw on the field.

When it comes to traits, Willis has some of the elite. Right now though Willis is a college quarterback with some elite NFL traits. He has a lot to work on to be a more well-rounded quarterback. Liberty doesn’t ask Willis to make many reads at all. Rarely do you see him simply drop back, make a read, and hit it. It’s a lot of one reads and RPOs, with an emphasis on using Willis’ legs. Good for helping the team win games, maybe not the best for his development. Willis can be generally accurate, but he definitely needs to work on his ball placement. Basically, Willis needs to prove that he can do traditional quarterback things. If he improves on those areas, with his insane arm talent and ability to make magic with his legs, Willis could rise up boards and be a first-round caliber player.

3. Sam Howell, North Carolina

Looking at the numbers, you can see why Sam Howell has been pegged as a 1st overall candidate early in the draft process. He’s thrown for over 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns in his two seasons as a starter, his completion percentage also rising to 68% this season. The common comparison for Howell is Baker Mayfield, and it checks out. Howell has a lively arm, able to run a Phil Longo system that features a lot of RPOs and deep shots. On deep passes, he has some of the best ball placement in college ball.

There are certain areas I’d like to see Howell improve at though. There are definitely times where you’ll see Howell lock on to his first read, forcing a throw to his primary target even if it necessarily isn’t there. I want to see him settle down a bit overall. Settling his wild nature just a tad bit and settling his feet a bit in the pocket can do wonders for him at the next level. One shortcoming that Howell will probably not be able to work on is his average athleticism. Howell isn’t going to be much of a running threat in the league but has somehow managed to become pretty good at evading rushers and extending the play. Will he be able to do so at the NFL? Overall Howell has a lot of traits that are nice but needs to refine his game more for the NFL.

2. Carson Strong, Nevada

Carson Strong is going to be the name casual football fans begin to learn over the course of the season. Playing in the Mountain West Conference, Strong has managed to fly under the college football radar: but no more. Strong was extremely impressive last year, throwing 27 touchdowns to only four interceptions. His arm is as his last name implies: Strong. A lively arm, Strong is able to throw a deep ball that just seems to keep going. He has great deep ball accuracy and is going to be able to put points up for a team in a hurry.

Strong is not a perfect prospect though. Strong is pretty much a traditional pocket passer. He doesn’t really do much out of the structure, not one to evade tackles and throw a bomb down the field. He doesn’t really possess the mobility most modern quarterback prospects do. I actually compare Carson a lot to Indianapolis Colt Jacob Eason, but a much-upgraded version. Neither are the most mobile but have big arms and can hit the deep ball. Strong is a much better decision-maker and throws a more accurate ball. Look for Strong to rise up draft boards.

1.Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma

For me, Spencer Rattler is the clear QB1 in a very OK quarterback class. Out of all the 2022 candidates, Rattler is the most comparable to last year’s superb quarterback class. When you watch Rattler at his best, everything just looks easy for the #1 ranked quarterback in the class of 2019. With a flick of his wrist Rattler can send the ball flying down the field to a streaking defender. With most serious draft prospects possessing a good arm, Rattler’s still manages to stand out. When Rattler’s on his A-game, the former Elite 11 MVP is a game-changer who can make plays out of the structure in a similar way to Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech. The upside is through the roof.

The big disclaimer for all those statements is “at his best.” Rattler is one of the least experienced quarterbacks vying to hear his name called early in Las Vegas. Last year was the Arizona product’s first full season as a starter, and boy did he have some kinks to work out. Turnovers were a problem early on, especially against Kansas State where Rattler threw three interceptions. He still is raw in a lot of areas. He still needs to improve on his decision-making and overall consistency. If Rattler puts it all together, he can truly be a special quarterback.