Nine quarterbacks were taken in the 2022 NFL draft. Not only was Brock Purdy the last quarterback picked of his draft class, but he was also the last person to hear his name called. As a QB who managed to lead the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in just his first full season as a starter, Purdy has already exceeded all NFL expectations.
In what was originally deemed a weak QB class, how exactly have the careers of every NFL quarterback picked before Purdy panned out two years later? Spoiler alert, two of them might already be out of the league by 2025.
1. Kenny Pickett (20th pick)
As the only quarterback picked in the first round of the 2022 draft, Pickett had the golden opportunity to immediately be a star and take over the reins left by Ben Roethlisberger. He had a coach in Mike Tomlin, multiple weapons on offense, and all he needed to beat out were veterans Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky.
While Pickett does have a winning record as a starter in his first two seasons, he has as many touchdowns as interceptions and was recently benched in a playoff game. The good news for Pickett is that with a new offensive coordinator in place, he still has a lot of room to live up to the hype.
2. Desmond Ridder (74th pick)
It took a while for another quarterback to be taken off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft after Pickett was taken in the first round. As another team that was missing a quarterback after their mainstay finally retired, Ridder also entered a situation where he could start immediately.
As a former two-time AAC offensive player of the year, Ridder's success at Cincinnati has yet to rub off in Atlanta. He finished his first season as a starter with 12 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and had the 5th lowest QB rating among starting quarterbacks as per ESPN.
3. Malik Willis (86th pick)
Initially touted as a prospect with 1st round potential, Willis fell in the draft due to concerns about the competition and the simplicity of the offense he had at Liberty College. While Willis has only played in less than 70 snaps through his first two seasons, the results haven't been promising.
He's yet to throw more than 100 yards in a single game and score a touchdown. Willis does have three interceptions to his NFL ledger though.
4. Matt Corral (94th pick)
Corral found himself in a golden opportunity to make his mark on a team that was in the middle of a complete rebuild. However, after one season, the Panthers made a shocking trade to land quarterback Bryce Young. Through Corral's first two seasons, he's yet to take a snap for the Panthers in the regular season.
5. Bailey Zappe (137th pick)
Whether it was the lack of protection or play calling, Zappe is another player who has struggled early to show he's capable of being a starting-caliber quarterback.
Through his first 14 games (8 as a starter), Zappe has a 4-4 record and has more NFL interceptions than touchdowns.
6. Sam Howell (144th pick)
With the Washington Commanders securing a top 2 pick in the 2024 draft, it's safe to assume Howell's time as a starter is over. As a draft class that didn't have a lot of expectations as passers were concerned, Howell is another name from this class who became a full-time starter in his 2nd year.
The results? A 4-13 record. Another quarterback who matched his touchdowns and interceptions. The only bright spot for Howell is that the Commanders' offensive line didn't do a good job of protecting him, leading Howell to be the most sacked quarterback of the season.
7. Chris Oladokun (241th pick)
As the second quarterback the Pittsburgh Steelers secured in the draft, Oladokun was deemed an insurance policy in case Pickett got injured or struggled. But just before training camp, Oladokun was cut from the team's 53-man NFL roster.
He shouldn't feel too bummed out though. A few days later he was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs and now has a chance to learn from the best in the game.
8. Skylar Thompson (247th pick)
As another pick who was taken as a contingency plan in case plan A goes south, Thompson did start a few games for the Miami Dolphins his rookie year. He finished with a 1-1 record throwing one touchdown and three interceptions.
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