The Two-Minute Drill: Rookie QB Roundup, How are They Faring?
By Brendan Nordstrom
The 2022 draft class was known as one of the worst quarterback classes in years. Only one quarterback was taken in the first round and only nine quarterbacks were taken overall. This compares to the 2021 draft class where three quarterbacks – Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance – were taken with the top three picks, and eight quarterbacks were taken in the first three rounds alone. This also compares to the upcoming 2023 class, where CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker all highlight the top of mock drafts.
The 2022 class seems to be an abnormal lull in the merry-go-round of quality quarterback talent that enters the draft every year. That is what makes the class so fascinating. With no rookie QBs listed as QB1 on the first day of the season, four quarterbacks have stepped in to starting roles at some point this season. Here is how they have fared:
Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh Steelers)
Following the illustrious 18-year career of Steelers’ franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh had a big hole to fill. Kenny Pickett, a Pitt prospect, seemed destined to remain in his collegiate city. Considered by many to be the only NFL-ready quarterback in the class, this pick was a slam dunk.
Pickett threw for over 4,000 yards and 42 touchdowns in his final year for the Panthers, including an 11-2 record and an ACC Championship. In the combine, Pickett was scrutinized due to his very small hand size. The Steelers were not concerned, picking him 20th overall.
To start the season, Pickett was in a crowded QB room with Mason Rudolph and former second-overall pick Mitchell Trubisky. Trubisky earned the start, but didn’t last long in the spotlight. With only three touchdowns and two interceptions in his five appearances, Trubisky lost the job to Pickett.
Pickett hasn’t done much better, however. With an abysmal 2-8 touchdown-interception ratio, under 1,000 yards passing and a sub-40 quarterback rating, Pickett and the rest of the Pittsburgh QB room is to blame for the 2-6 start to the season. Whether Pickett ends up being a quality signal-caller for Pittsburgh in the future remains to be seen, but he won’t be their hero this season.
Bailey Zappe (New England Patriots)
Bill Belichick is an interesting case. The most successful coach in NFL history doesn’t splurge in free agency or pay to retain talent, and he isn’t known as the best drafter. How does he find that success? Ultimately, he is known for finding diamonds in the rough. You may have heard of a former sixth-round pick Tom Brady, who shaped out pretty well.
The problem with the Tom Brady theory is that Patriots fans, and fans of all NFL teams, believe that every late-round pick could become the next Brady. Well – spoiler alert – they won’t.
A year after the Patriots took Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, Belichick was not done. Bailey Zappe was considered a fringe-top 10 QB in an already weak class. However, the Patriots drafted the Western Kentucky product in the fourth round.
With Jones going down with an high ankle sprain, Zappe earned his spot under center for the next three games. Zappe went 2-1 in that span, barely losing to the Packers in overtime, blanking the Lions 29-0 and dominating the Browns 38-15. Naturally when Jones was set to return, the Patriots faithful were conflicted. When Jones disappointed early in the Week 7 matchup against the Bears, “Zappe” chants were heard in Foxborough. Zappe entered the game, immediately hitting Jakobi Myers for a 30-yard touchdown.
The question must be asked, is this QB controversy between two deserving quarterbacks, or two bad ones? Either way, one thing is certain: neither is the next Tom Brady.
Malik Willis (Tennessee Titans)
Ryan Tannehill is considered an adequate quarterback. However, the top teams in today’s league all boast the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts. Adequate will never be enough.
This put the Titans in a unique spot to take a chance on a project prospect with an immensely high ceiling: Malik Willis.
One of the most exciting prospects in the draft was rumored to go in the top 10 but fell to the third round. This fall was because he needs a lot of work. He is far from the most accurate quarterback, he doesn’t go through progressions well and he comes from Liberty University.
The reason Willis is a steal is because of the upside. In his two years at Liberty, he threw for over 5,000 yards and, more impressively, ran for nearly 2,000. That mobility is lethal in the league, as shown by Lamar Jackson and Mahomes.
Willis earned his first career start this past weekend with Tannehill out with illness. The Titans didn’t ask for much as he only made 10 attempts for 61 yards. However, with a couple years and more experience under his belt, I still believe Willis could blossom into the league’s upper echelon.
Skylar Thompson (Miami Dolphins)
It’s hard to not talk about the Dolphins this season – they’re by far the most interesting team in the league to me. Part of that intrigue is that a seventh-round QB made two appearances. After Tua Tagavailoa endured concussion protocol, backup Teddy Bridgewater stepped in. However, in a 40-17 beatdown at the hands of the Jets, Bridgewater also entered concussion protocol. This brought in Skylar Thompson.
It is rare for a seventh-round draft pick to even make the 53-man roster, let alone play in a game; let alone start in a game. The only exception is the 205th draft pick in the 2005 Draft, Ryan Fitzpatrick: the league’s most famous journeyman quarterback.
While Thompson threw for 144 yards and an interception against the Jets, he was listed as the starter versus Minnesota the next week. There he threw for 89 yards and no touchdowns in a 24-16 loss.
Given Tagovailoa stays healthy the remainder of the season, Thompson will be resigned to the sidelines. This isn’t a storybook ending for the long shot QB, as his ceiling is a backup; however, seeing him enter the professional gridiron at all is a cool moment.