Which quarterbacks were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft? Who were the teams that drafted them, and how does this QB class compare to previous years?
In case you missed some of the action from the NFL Draft, you can catch up with the 2022 NFL Draft results. Additionally, you can see how our draft analysts graded each and every selection in our full 2022 NFL Draft grades.
Which Quarterbacks Were Drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft?
Kenny Pickett, Pitt | Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1, Pick 20
As the lone QB selected in the first round of last year’s draft, Pittsburgh Panther QB Kenny Pickett was drafted to be the Steelers’ QB of the future. Pickett rose from a late-round option at the start of the 2022 NFL Draft cycle to be the first QB taken off the board on Day 1. He did that thanks to a dream final season that saw him throw more touchdowns in a single season than in the rest of his college career.
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
Pickett finished his college career with a season that saw him throw for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns to just seven interceptions.
Pickett didn’t start immediately as a rookie but took over for Mitch Trubisky relatively quickly. He replaced the veteran in Week 4 and started for the remainder of the season. As a rookie, Pickett completed 63% of his passes for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati | Atlanta Falcons
Round 3, Pick 74
It took quite a long time before another team pushed the button on a quarterback. After a superb final season with the Cincinnati Bearcats, that honor went to Desmond Ridder.
The Falcons committed to Marcus Mariota as their quarterback last season. However, once the season was clearly over, they gave Ridder a four-game audition to close the campaign. He completed 63.5% of his passes for 708 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Ridder also ran it 16 times for 64 yards.
Poised to enter his sophomore season as the starter, Ridder will have a chance to prove to the Falcons that he’s their answer at quarterback.
Malik Willis, Liberty | Tennessee Titans
Round 3, Pick 86
Mocked by many to go in the first round, Malik Willis waited quite a while to hear his name called. After having to leave Auburn following the arrival of Bo Nix, he re-invigorated his career with Liberty. During his time with the Flames, Willis threw for 47 touchdowns while adding another 27 with his legs.
Willis opened the season backing up Ryan Tannehill. But after starting three games and failing to impress, the Titans benched him for off-the-street signee Josh Dobbs. It is unlikely we ever see Willis start an NFL game again.
Matt Corral, Ole Miss | Carolina Panthers
Round 3, Pick 86
The Panthers traded up to the end of the third round to draft Ole Miss QB Matt Corral. He did not play a snap his entire rookie season due to injury.
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky | New England Patriots
Round 4, Pick 187
Despite having spent a first-round pick on Mac Jones the year prior, the Patriots spent an early Day 3 pick to select Western Kentucky QB Bailey Zappe. He wound up starting two games as a rookie, as well as replacing Jones in a third in what was a straight benching.
MORE: Most NFL Draft Picks by School
Zappe threw five touchdowns against three interceptions. He showed enough to prove he’s at least a competent backup QB. There’s a chance he makes starts this season as the Patriots are not sold on Jones as their answer at the position.
Sam Howell, North Carolina | Washington Commanders
Round 5, Pick 144
The Commanders have been searching for their next quarterback since Kirk Cousins left for Minnesota. They took a shot in the fifth round on North Carolina QB Sam Howell.
Howell didn’t see any game action until the final week of the season when the mathematically eliminated Commanders gave him a one-game audition after Taylor Heinicke offered up the chance to the rookie.
Howell completed 58% of his passes for 169 yards and a touchdown, with 38 yards and another score on the ground. The Commanders beat a Cowboys team not playing for anything, which evidently was enough for the team to want to give Howell a shot to compete for the starting job this season.
Chris Oladokun, South Dakota State | Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 7, Pick 241
The Steelers drafted South Dakota State QB Chris Oladokun in the seventh round. He was inactive for his entire rookie season.
Skylar Thompson, Kansas State | Miami Dolphins
Round 7, Pick 247
When the Dolphins drafted Skylar Thompson out of Kansas State, I doubt they anticipated how much game action he would get.
Thompson won the team’s QB3 job behind Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater. He wound up starting the team’s playoff game and kept them reasonably competitive. Thompson looks like a capable backup at the NFL level.
Brock Purdy, Iowa State | San Francisco 49ers
Round 7, Pick 262
Easily the best quarterback from the 2022 draft class was the last one taken. Dubbed Mr. Irrelevant for being the last player selected, Brock Purdy was thrust into action after Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo got injured and played better than anyone could’ve anticipated.
Purdy went undefeated as a starter, winning all five of his games, completing 67.1% of his passes for 1,374 yards and 13 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
Unfortunately, his elbow injury in the NFC Championship Game may cost him the entire 2023 season. Regardless, Purdy has proven he is undoubtedly one of the 32 best quarterbacks on the planet.
How Many Quarterbacks Were Drafted in 2022?
There were nine QBs drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. It marked the second-fewest of any draft in the past decade. Only the 2015 QB class saw fewer players selected than in 2022 (seven).
The 2022 NFL Draft was the first time that just one quarterback was drafted in the first round since EJ Manuel in 2013. It is just the second time in the past 20 years that the feat has occurred. The 20th pick is also the latest that the first QB has come off the board in those 20 years. Manuel at 16th in the 2013 NFL Draft was the only time since 2001 that a QB had not been taken inside the top 10.
MORE: Which Position Groups Are Drafted the Most?
In the 2013 NFL Draft, Day 2 was also slow for quarterback selections. Only Geno Smith (Pick 39 — Jets) and Mike Glennon (Pick 73 — Buccaneers) were selected on Day 2. There were then a further eight quarterbacks taken on Day 3. The 2022 NFL Draft saw three quarterbacks selected on Day 2.
However, it is the first draft since 2000 where only one QB had been selected through the first two rounds.