Honestly, if you go back and look at the pre-draft "expert" big boards from early 2022, it feels like looking at a different dimension. People were legitimately arguing about whether Malik Willis should go top five. There was a real, serious debate about Kenny Pickett being a "safe" franchise cornerstone.
It was a weird time.
Everyone knew the 2022 NFL draft qbs weren't exactly a stellar group. Scouts called it a "down year." But "down year" turned out to be a massive understatement. It was more like a historical anomaly where almost every single team that bet high on a signal-caller ended up losing their shirt. Well, except for the team that waited until the very last pick of the entire draft.
Life is funny like that.
The First-Round Mirage and the Fall of Kenny Pickett
The Pittsburgh Steelers were the only team desperate (or brave) enough to take a swing in the first round. They grabbed Kenny Pickett at 20th overall. He was the local kid, the Pitt Panther staying in the same facility. It felt like a movie script. But in the NFL, scripts get rewritten by 250-pound linebackers and front offices with zero patience.
Pickett’s stats weren’t just mediocre; they were historic in a bad way. We're talking about a guy who threw only 13 touchdowns in 25 games. In today's league, that’s basically a month of work for a top-tier starter. By the time 2024 rolled around, the Steelers had seen enough. They shipped him to the Eagles for essentially a pick swap, and now he’s a backup. Just like that. The "pro-ready" savior became a "clipboard-ready" backup.
The Third-Round "Value" That Never Was
The middle of this draft was where things got really messy. Teams thought they were finding value. They weren't.
- Desmond Ridder (74th overall): Atlanta tried to make it work. They really did. But Ridder’s turnover issues and inability to push the ball downfield led to him being shipped to Arizona, and later bouncing around to the Vikings' practice squad.
- Malik Willis (86th overall): The "highest ceiling" guy. He had the cannon arm and the legs, but the processing speed just wasn't there in Tennessee. He’s now in Green Bay, occasionally flashing talent when Jordan Love takes a breather, but nobody's calling him a franchise guy anymore.
- Matt Corral (94th overall): This one is just sad. A Lisfranc injury in the preseason basically ended his Panthers career before it started. He went AWOL in New England and ended up in the UFL.
2022 NFL Draft QBs: The Mr. Irrelevant Miracle
If you want to talk about the 2022 NFL draft qbs and not mention Brock Purdy, you’re missing the only part of the story that actually matters. It is still the most absurd thing I’ve ever seen in sports. 261 players were taken before him.
261.
The Niners took him because they needed a "camp arm." They had Trey Lance (a massive investment) and Jimmy Garoppolo. Purdy was just supposed to be a body. Instead, he became the only legitimate star of the entire class. It makes you wonder what the scouts were even looking at. Purdy had the most college starts of anyone in the group. He was accurate. He was a winner at Iowa State—not exactly a football powerhouse.
While the "first-rounders" were struggling to read a basic cover-2, Purdy was out there carving up defenses in Kyle Shanahan’s system. It’s 2026 now, and Purdy is the only one with a massive contract and a Super Bowl start under his belt. He’s the outlier that proves the rule: the 2022 QB class was a disaster, and the NFL's scouting process is basically a coin flip in a dark room.
Why Sam Howell Might Be the Only Other "Winner"
Look, Sam Howell isn't a superstar. But if you look at the value, Washington getting him in the 5th round was a steal compared to Pickett at 20. He threw for nearly 4,000 yards in 2023. Sure, he threw a billion interceptions and got sacked every three plays, but he showed he's an NFL-caliber player. He’s currently backing up Geno Smith in Seattle, and honestly, he might be the only other guy from this class who gets a second chance to start someday.
What This Means for Your Dynasty Team or Fandom
If you’re still holding onto a Malik Willis "breakout" card, it’s probably time to let go. This class taught us a few brutal lessons that still apply to the drafts we're seeing today in 2026.
- Don't Reach for Need: The Steelers needed a QB, so they took the best one available. The problem was, the "best one available" was a backup-level talent.
- Experience Matters: Purdy and Howell had a mountain of college starts. The "tools" guys like Willis and Corral didn't. In a league that doesn't give you time to develop, those reps are everything.
- The "System" is a Lie: People said Purdy was a "system QB." Well, if the system makes you a Pro Bowler and the other guys are out of the league, I'll take the system every time.
The reality is that the 2022 quarterback crop will likely go down as the worst of the decade. When the most successful player is the guy picked last, it tells you everything you need to know about the "experts."
💡 You might also like: NFL QB Prospects 2026: Why the Scouts Are Scrambling
Actionable Insights for NFL Fans:
- Stop Overvaluing "Pro Days": Malik Willis had a viral pro day throw that probably boosted his stock two rounds higher than it should have been. It didn't mean anything.
- Watch the Backup Markets: Teams are now more willing to trade for "failed" 2022 starters (like the Seahawks did with Howell) because they are cheap, high-end backups.
- Respect the Floor: In a weak QB class, the guy with the highest floor (Purdy) usually outlasts the guy with the theoretical ceiling.
If you're tracking the next wave of prospects, keep the 2022 meltdown in mind. Sometimes, the guy everyone is ignoring at the end of the draft is the only one who actually knows how to play football. It’s a tough lesson, but one the NFL won’t forget anytime soon.
Next Steps for You: To see how this historical flop compares to recent years, you can look up the 2024 QB class stats—specifically how many of those first-rounders are still starting compared to the 2022 group at the same point in their careers. It’s a night-and-day difference that really highlights just how much of a "black swan" event 2022 was for the league.