2022 NFL Draft: Here are the worst fits for each of the big-name quarterbacks

We’re exactly six days away from the NFL draft, and yet we still aren’t sure what the first round is going to look like. Perhaps Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, and/or Terry McLaurin are traded in the next few days and shake up the first round. Maybe the Panthers make a move for Baker Mayfield. And I don’t remember the last time there was this much mystery surrounding the first overall pick. Will the Jaguars take Hutchinson? Thibodeaux? Walker? Neal? Ekwonu? Do they blow up everyone’s mock drafts and choose Sauce Gardner or Derek Stingley Jr.? As crazy as it sounds, those moves aren’t out of the question. The biggest question of all, though, is where will each of the big-ticket quarterbacks go. Never before has there been such a plethora of talent at the quarterback position in the NFL. Yet at the same time, it still feels like there are several teams that could draft one of either Matt Corral, Desmond Ridder, Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, or Sam Howell in the first or second rounds. While any one of these guys could end up being a franchise-caliber talent, the most important thing for the development of any quarterback prospect is the system they are drafted into. Some of these guys could be doomed to fail as soon as they hear their name called. Obviously, they won’t know it until several years later, but the system they are drafted into will have a major impact on whether or not they thrive in the league or disappoint. With that, here are the worst spots for each of the big five quarterbacks to land. Malik Willis – Tennessee Titans source: Getty Images Willis is tough, because his style of play is fit for every system in the NFL. There isn’t a team in the league that wouldn’t like someone with Willis’ explosiveness on their squad. That being said, there is a team looking for a quarterback that would likely fail to put that explosiveness to good use. The Tennessee Titans are a run-first squad, and as long as King Henry is healthy, they will stay that way. It seems unlikely that Willis will fall to the Titans at 26 given that many analysts claim Willis is the most highly-touted QB prospect in this year’s class. However, if Willis does happen to endure an Aaron Rodgers-esque fall down draft boards, the Titans would be more than happy to make Willis their heir apparent to Tannehill. Mike Vrabel is a good coach, so perhaps after they make one more Super Bowl run with Tannehill in 2022, he’ll start developing a new gameplan with Willis at quarterback for 2023. However, the fact that Tennessee would likely have to limit Henry’s role in order to make Willis more prevalent in their offense makes the Titans the worst match for the Liberty quarterback. At least the Seahawks knew how to let Russ cook. At least the Steelers have watched Ben Roethlisberger struggle to move at all in the pocket the last five years and have probably planned on having a mobile quarterback for a while. Tennessee hasn’t been prepping for a new quarterback for very long, and if A.J. Brown splits town, Willis would be headed to a team with zero weapons and a run-heavy gameplan. At least the coaching staff is good. Kenny Pickett – Seattle Seahawks source: Getty Images Pitt’s record-setting quarterback is known for being light on his feet. However, that strength is also one of his greatest weaknesses. Pickett loves to create unnecessary pressure for himself, and thus panics before any actual pressure amounts. He’ll leave the pocket early and yet still struggles to take incompletions rather than sacks. That reminds me of another quarterback that was constantly under pressure and eventually asked for a trade because he was unhappy with how his team’s front office handled the offensive line situation. I am of course talking about Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks seem intent on making sure their quarterbacks are never comfortable in the pocket. That strange team-building philosophy will only invoke Pickett’s weaknesses, making it harder for him to succeed. Can that weakness be coached out during the preseason? Maybe, but the fact that the Seahawks aren’t already built to play to Pickett’s strengths is cause for concern. Desmond Ridder – Washington Commanders source: Getty Images Former Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder has one fatal flaw according to most analysts: Arm strength. Tight window throws can be an issue for Ridder and thus, having receivers capable of getting open ASAP is a must. The Washington Commanders have someone like that in Terry McLaurin. However, McLaurin is holding out for a new contract. With the wide-receiver market having exploded during the offseason (thanks a lot, Christian Kirk), McLaurin is likely holding out for a massive contract, something in the $20 million per year range. The Commanders have about $6 million in effective cap space, so unless they pull a few interesting contract moves, they might not be able to bring McLaurin back. Who could Ridder and Wentz rely on without McLaurin? Curtis Samuel? Dyami Brown? J.D. McKissic? That’s not exactly a dynamic group of receivers. I have all the faith in the world that Ridder will thrive in the NFL, but if he wants immediate success, Washington isn’t the place for him. Matt Corral – Pittsburgh Steelers source: Getty Images If not for the ankle injury he suffered in the Ole Miss Bowl earlier this year, Matt Corral would likely be a consensus first-round pick. Instead, he’s often slated to go in the second. It’s often noted that much of Corral’s success in college was due to Ole Miss’s heavy usage of play-action and RPOs. Therefore, it stands to reason that if Corral is to struggle in the NFL, it would be with an offense that doesn’t utilize play-action or RPOs very often. I don’t know why any team would do that. One quick Google search and anybody can tell you that play-action is generally the most effective play to run, so why any team would refuse to do so is beyond me. But that’s beside the point though. The Pittsburgh Steelers are known for refusing to run play-action often. In 2019 (the most recent year PA percentage was recorded), they ranked last in the NFL in play-action percentage and dead last in yards-per-play-per-play-action run (I hope that didn’t confuse anyone). If anyone can turn Corral into an effective passer without play-action, it’s Mike Tomlin, but if the Steelers are intent on taking Corral, they may want to start Trubisky until Tomlin has the updated, play-action heavy gameplan in effect. Sam Howell – Houston Texas source: Getty Images The all-time leader in total offensive yards at UNC, Sam Howell possesses incredible arm and upper body strength. However, he often uses that strength too much. His deep ball accuracy isn’t the greatest. He’s also known for eyeing his receivers down, giving experienced safeties enough time to move over to the proper side of the field and make plays. The Houston Texans have one guy, Brandin Cooks, who can consistently get open. While I don’t hate Davis Mills as an option for the Texans moving forward, they would be smart to keep their options at quarterback open, especially if they like Howell. If Cooks is the only reliable option, it wouldn’t surprise me if Howell often looks his way, staring him down, waiting to get open. That would provide ample opportunity for opposing DBs to get in position to make a play. It’s a minor gripe for Howell, but the most common one I see from draft experts. If that’s the reason he’s projected to go in the mid-to-late second round, then it must be semi-serious. Howell struggles with intermediate to deep accuracy and would likely require great receivers around him in order to succeed in the NFL. The Texans have too many other issues to fix before focusing on their receiving corps. That’s a bad combination for someone like Howell. Relatedfree football sportsbooksnfl prop betsbetting on ncaa footballtop online nba betting sitesmlb sportsbooksnhl sportsbookall ufc betting sitessoccer bettingcopa america bet