2022 Pre-Draft Rundown: Quarterbacks
In a league where a team can never have enough depth at any spot on the football field, there is no greater scarcity than at the quarterback position. Obtaining a franchise QB can be the difference between a team toiling in mediocrity and continually making deep playoff runs. In dynasty Super Flex formats this is no different. Drafting the next great QB prospect is a great way to begin to build a dynasty roster that will be a force to be reckoned with for a long time. Today we’ll sift through the 2022 crop of signal callers and help identify who you should target in your rookie drafts. With the NFL draft just around the corner, this is the time of year that dynasty managers need to be in full blown scouting mode.
Some Context:
- Player ages reflect the age each player will be at the conclusion of the 2022 fantasy season
- Tiers are based on a combination of college game tape and production
- NFL draft results will impact the order in which players are selected in dynasty rookie drafts
- NFL Comps are a comparison to players’ skillsets, not a prediction of future fantasy production
Tier 1
Malik Willis – Liberty (Age 23) 6’0 219lbs
In a class lacking a true consensus “generational” quarterback prospect, we give you Malik Willis out of Liberty University. By no means a household name, Willis excelled as a dual-threat QB for the Flames in his final two college seasons. What vaults Willis into the top tier of our pre-draft QB write up is his upside to be the next “Konami code” QB at the NFL level. Never heard this expression before? Well, it’s all the rage in dynasty nowadays, and refers to a quarterback who can score points for your fantasy teams as both a rusher and as a passer. Willis certainly fits the mold, rushing for a combined 29 TDs to go along with 57 TDs in his two seasons as a starter.
A 3 star recruit out of high school, he found it difficult to get on the field in his first two college seasons at the University of Auburn and after sitting out the 2019 season, transferred to FCS school Liberty. While it's fair to point out that his domination at the college level took place against lower-level competition, make no mistake, he took over in a big way. It is rare for the draft to be less than a week away without having a QB selected in the top 5 being a foregone conclusion. However, if there is going to be a QB who hears his name called in that range, Willis is as safe a bet as any. If Willis can crack the top 10 in the NFL draft, he’s likely to continue his climb up dynasty rookie draft boards, possibly entering the conversation for 1.01 on the board in Super Flex and 2QB formats.
NFL Comp – Tyrod Taylor
Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh (Age 24) 6’3” 217lbs
As the raw stats would indicate, Pickett developed into one of the top prospects at his position over time, gradually getting better as his college career went on. He really put it all together in his senior season, leading the Panthers to an 11-3 record and an ACC Championship. His 4,319 passing yards was good for 5th in the country among power conference schools, and his 42 passing TDs good for 4th in the entire nation. Despite the concerns over his small hand size (8 5/8 inches) his college tape showed him play well in multiple bad weather games at Heinz Field. While he did rush for 13 total TDs in his final two seasons, he’s projected to be more of a pocket passer at the next level. Lacking the same fantasy ceiling as a Malik Willis, Pickett lands in our top tier due to his high level of college production, and the fact that he should be ready to play from day one if need be. He has garnered interest from NFL teams thus far, but where he will be selected remains a relative unknown. In a class lacking in top end RB talent, we can see Pickett being selected in the mid-late first 1st round of Super Flex and 2QB leagues.
NFL Comp – Andy Dalton
Matt Corral – Ole Miss (Age 23) 6’1” 205lbs
Our only SEC signal caller to crack this year’s QB write up, Matt Corral put together two productive campaigns for the Rebels both on the ground and through the air. He lead the team to a 10-3 overall record in a highly competitive conference and capped off his college career with an appearance in the Sugar Bowl. While his ability to win via passing or running vaulted him into the top tier, his ability to quickly read a defense and make a decision will be a big plus for NFL scouts. His fearless playing style will no doubt endear him to his teammates, but it can also be viewed as a negative. Working with a relatively slender frame, there are questions as to whether or not he can stand up to the punishment that will be dished out by NFL pass rushers. Corral was at his best operating out of an RPO offense, which could limit his ceiling if he lands on a team that doesn’t utilize those types looks with regularity. He should be off the board by the end of the first round of the NFL draft, and Dynasty Managers can comfortably select him in the mid-late 1st round of Super Flex drafts.
NFL Comp - Baker Mayfield
Tier 2
Sam Howell - North Carolina (Age 22) 6’1” 218lbs
Just missing out on tier 1 status is another college QB that is also ready to take the field as a rookie. At the age of just 17 years old, Howell not only suited up for his first college game but started for 3 weeks (against 3 power conference schools) prior to his 18th birthday, compiling 701 yards, 6 TDs and 0 INTs in those contests. With campaigns of 30+ TDs and 7 INTs in his first two years at Chapel Hill, Howell was a big-time producer for the Tar Heels. While his passing statistics regressed in his final season, his rushing totals jumped dramatically, to the tune of 828 yards and 11 TDs. His shift in playing style no doubt was a result of losing a ton of help to the NFL between his Sophomore and Junior seasons. Ever heard of Javonte Williams, Michael Carter, Dyami Brown or Dazz Newsome? Well, Howell was the trigger man for UNC’s 2020 offense that featured all 4 of these 2021 NFL draft picks. He made the most of his time with these talented players but had to take on more of the burden himself in 2021 in their absence. Howell’s NFL stock remains a bit of an enigma headed into the final week leading up to the draft. If he can crack the first or early second day of the NFL draft, he should be on the radar of Dynasty Managers at the end of the 1st round of Super Flex rookie drafts.
NFL Comp - Also Baker Mayfield
Desmond Ridder – Cincinnati (Age 23) 6’3” 226lbs
Another QB with a successful college career, Ridder capped off his college career with a perfect 13-0 regular season and a trip to the College Football Playoffs. Hanging tough with powerhouse Alabama for a half, the Bearcats eventually fell by a final score of 27-6, ending the best season in school history on a somewhat sour note. The leader of that little engine that could? You guessed it. Desmond Ridder. A solid starter for three seasons, Ridder took a big step in his development as a senior, shattering his previous high watermark in passing yards by nearly 1,000. Ridder also showed well in the rushing department, taking off for 500 or more yards in each of his first three college seasons. He’s continued his forward momentum into the offseason, impressing NFL teams during the interview process. His name has been steadily creeping up draft boards late in the process, which can sometimes be an indicator that there may be a team or two who could be willing to reach and take him earlier than draft analysts expect. If he hears his name called during the first two days of the draft, Dynasty Managers should be interest in taking a shot on Ridder in the late 1st or early 2nd rounds of their Super Flex rookie drafts.
NFL Comp – Alex Smith
Tier 3
Carson Strong – Nevada (Age 23) 6’3” 226lbs
2021’s Mountain West player of the year award winner, Strong capped off a major statistical season for the Wolfpack with a whopping 38 touchdowns. Originally pegged to be a dual-threat QB coming out of high school, Strong had an injury scare prior to ever setting foot on a college field. Suffering from a joint condition known as osteochondritis disease, which involved part of the cartilage in his knee to become detached from the bone, Strong showed to be an excellent pocket QB. Given his college dominance came at a smaller program, and that he has possess very little rushing upside, it’s hard to imagine that he will be anything more than a day 2 prosect come draft time. Dynasty Managers should consider taking a shot on him in the mid-late 2nd round of upcoming rookie drafts in Super Flex formats.
NFL Comp – Drew Bledsoe
Bailey Zappe – Western Kentucky (Age 23) 6’0” 215lbs
You won’t see his name in many draft experts top 5 QBs, but it felt wrong not dive into such a wildly productive player, so we did. While only starting 1 season outside of the FCS, Zappe took full advantage of his opportunity and erupted for a nation leading 62 TDs as a senior at Western Kentucky. If that seems like a video game stat, your gut feeling is spot on. Zappe’s 62 TDs broke Joe Burrow’s previous mark of 60 for the most all-time passing touchdowns in NCAA history, breaking the record in one fewer contest. Where did this guy come from you ask? Zappe began his college career at Houston Baptist University, where he posted a 35 TD season as a sophomore before starting just 4 games the following season in order to preserve an additional year of eligibility.
Despite the enormous production, the fear is that he is too slow to get the football out of his hands, and that he’ll struggle to consistently fit the rock into tight windows at the next level. As you might imagine for a player who was so incredibly productive through the air, he didn’t produce much on the ground. What scouts will make of Zappe is hard to pin down, but it’s certain that he did enough in his lone season outside of the FCS to get selected on day two or three of the NFL draft. It’s difficult to bank on signal callers who get selected outside of the top two rounds, but Zappe makes for an intriguing late 2nd or early 3rd round dart throw in Super Flex rookie drafts.
NFL Draft Comp – Chase Daniel
