Mel Kiper names his favorite quarterback in 2022 NFL Draft
ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper released his second mock draft of the offseason on Tuesday morning. Following his second mock draft being released, Kiper has addressed his favorite quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft class: Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett.
While Kiper favors Pickett, he also notes that Liberty’s Malik Willis is right there with him. Kiper then made some interesting comparisons to how Pickett could fare in the NFL.
“Slightly,” Kiper said when naming Pickett his favorite quarterback in the 2022 draft class. “Malik Willis, to me, is right there with him. One’s at 19, the other is at 20. Malik Willis has unbelievable talent, he’s not there yet. Kenny Pickett is a guy, I think, best case scenario, Derek Carr and that Andy Dalton-mold as well. If he is Derek Carr, the team that drafts Kenny Pickett, if it is Washington at No. 11, is going to be very happy.”
Kiper indeed had Pickett as the first quarterback taken in his second mock draft, going 11th overall to the Washington Commanders. He had Willis going 20th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The third and final quarterback taken in Kiper’s latest first round, the Detroit Lions selected Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral.
Pickett has the most experience among the top quarterbacks in the draft class, as he just wrapped up his fifth season at Pittsburgh. This past season was Pickett’s best of his career. In 13 games, he threw for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions, adding 233 yards and five scores on the ground. Through his five-year collegiate career, Pickett threw for 12,303 yards with 81 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.
Kiper’s second NFL mock draft, with Pickett at No. 11
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: NC State OT Ikem Ekwonu
2. Detroit Lions: Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson
3. Houston Texans: Alabama OT Evan Neal
4. New York Jets: Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton
5. New York Giants: Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
6. Carolina Panthers: Mississippi State OT Charles Cross
7. New York Giants (via CHI): Utah LB Devin Lloyd
8. Atlanta Falcons: Cincinnati CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
PROJECTED TRADE: Browns move up, swap with Broncos
9. Cleveland Browns (via DEN): USC WR Drake London
10. New York Jets (via SEA): Iowa C Tyler Linderbaum
11. Washington Commanders: Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett
12. Minnesota Vikings: LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr.
13. Denver Broncos (via CLE): Florida State DE Jermaine Johnson II
PROJECTED TRADE: Saints move up, swap with Ravens
14. New Orleans Saints (via BAL): Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA): Washington CB Trent McDuffie
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via IND): Michigan OLB David Ojabo
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Georgia DE Travon Walker
18. Baltimore Ravens (via NO): Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning
19. Philadelphia Eagles: Arkansas WR Treylon Burks
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Liberty QB Malik Willis
21. New England Patriots: Penn State DE Arnold Ebiketie
22. Las Vegas Raiders: Georgia ILB Nakobe Dean
23. Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State WR Chris Olave
24. Dallas Cowboys: Purdue DE George Karlaftis
25. Buffalo Bills: Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt
26. Tennessee Titans: Penn State WR Jahan Dotson
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Boston College OG/C Zion Johnson
28. Green Bay Packers: Alabama WR Jameson Williams
29. Miami Dolphins (via SF): Central Michigan OT Bernhard Raimann
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Minnesota OLB Boye Mafe
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Washington CB Kyler Gordon
32. Detroit Lions (via LAR): Ole Miss QB Matt Corral