Ben Roethlisberger will turn 40 next offseason and if this year isn't his final year, it's obvious that there isn't much left in the tank. A former five-star recruit and USC transfer, Daniels threw for 1,231 yards, 10 touchdowns to only two interceptions in his four games for the Bulldogs in 2020.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a few different options behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at the moment, including Joshua Dobbs, Mason Rudolph and former first-round selection Dwayne Haskins, who was let go by Washington last season. Still, given how Roethlisberger's season ended in 2020, you might think that finding the true quarterback of the future will be atop the list of to-dos for the Steelers in 2022.
Could Desmond Ridder be the answer? Before announcing his decision to return to Cincinnati for his senior season, Ridder was getting some buzz as perhaps a quarterback to crash the top tier in the 2021 NFL draft. He has been a mainstay in the Bearcats' offense the past few seasons and posted career-high marks in completion percentage (66.2%) and NCAA Passing Efficiency (152.9) last season.
Slovis had an up and down sophomore year after an outstanding true freshman campaign. He doesn't quite have the arm of some others in this class, but he's been one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the class for two years running.
Another QB! We just watched five go in the first 15 picks last week, and now we could see as many go in the first half of Day 1 again. Pittsburgh has Ben Roethlisberger back for one more season (2022 is a void year on his contract), so it should absolutely be in the QB market at the draft. Ridder has done a little bit of everything at Cincinnati, throwing for at least 2,100 yards and 18 TDs in three straight seasons. And the 6-foot-4 redshirt senior averaged 6 yards per carry and scored 12 times on the ground in 2020.
After the Steelers failed to address offensive tackle in the draft, I doubt Ben Roethlisberger has much longer. If you're looking for a quarterback with breakout potential like Joe Burrow or Mac Jones, it's Daniels in his first full season as Bulldogs starter.
Another quarterback who can put himself in the first round discussion with continued development, Jurkovec is a well-built competitor with better mobility than expected -- similar to a current Pittsburgh quarterback. Scouts are eager to see the development of this Notre Dame transfer.
Elam has the size (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) and athleticism to be considered among the up-and-comers to watch. He had two picks and 11 pass breakups last season playing opposite Marco Wilson, a 2021 fourth-round pick of the Cardinals.
Many expected Ridder to declare and be a top-100 pick in the 2021 class. Ridder instead chose to return to a loaded Cincinnati program, where he hopes to improve his stock by ironing out some of his ball placement and errant decision making. Ridder has good size, excellent rushing ability, and a strong arm. All the tools for success are there -- Ridder just needs to make use of them in a smart, consistent way.
Washington missed out on the top five quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft and quarterback will be a very common position mocked to WFT in 2022 mocks, especially if they are picking inside the top 10. Ryan Fitzpatrick will start for Washington in his age-39 season, but he signed a one-year deal and there is no long-term answer currently on the roster.
One of college football's most accurate passers (70.0% career completion rate), Slovis had a bit of an up-and-down season in 2020 after a stellar freshman season, but he still led the Pac 12 in passing yards per game (320.2) last year.
There was a time when UNC's Sam Howell was the consensus "first overall pick of the future." That was after a freshman season that saw Howell throw for 38 touchdowns against just seven interceptions. But last year while his numbers improved in a few respects (his completion percentage jumped from 61.4% to 68.1%, and his yards per attempt leapt from 8.6 to 10.3) there is a case to be made that the offensive system is responsible just as much as Howell is for that increase in production.
Still, if he puts together a third-straight solid year, he will be in the mix for the QB1 spot. In this scenario he slides to Washington who, if they are picking this early in the draft, will be looking to finally lock down the quarterback position.
In three years as a starter, Kirkland has seen his pass-blocking grade go from 77.1 to 79.0 to 86.6. He allowed all of two pressures on 124 pass-blocking snaps in 2020.
Willis transferred to Liberty from Auburn and threw 20 touchdowns to six interceptions in 2020 after sitting out the 2019 season. He adds a dual-threat factor, too, considering he rushed for 944 yards and 14 more scores on the ground last season. Washington opted not to draft a quarterback, but current starter Ryan Fitzpatrick is turning 39 during this coming season. If the team wants to continue to be a playoff contender out of the NFC East, it needs a franchise starter.
Ridder's size (6-4, 215), accuracy and dual-threat capabilities make him an intriguing prospect. He's already 30-5 as a starter and if he levels up, he could be in considered for the top overall pick.
Georgia's inconsistencies last season can be tied to its issues at quarterback. But over the final few games with Daniels as the starter, the Bulldogs looked like a different team. If he continues to make positive strides, he could put himself in the top half of Round 1.
Rattler is undersized at 6-foot-1, but that's less of an issue in today's NFL. Either way, he can sling it -- he completed 67 percent of his throws last season with 28 touchdowns and he's only going to improve.
Ryan Fitzpatrick only has so many years left in him. None of the other options on Washington's roster are realistic long-term starters, either. It's got to be a quarterback. The 2022 QB class is seemingly weak, but Willis' size, speed, and arm talent make him one of the best candidates to rise through the process. If Willis can clean up the accuracy a bit and shave a tick off some of his processing, he may well be the first or second QB off the board when it's all said and done.
Both Marshon Lattimore, who will play on the fifth-year option, and Patrick Robinson are scheduled to become free agents next offseason. Especially if they aren't able to retain both, they could look to add another corner early in 2022. Gardner (6-2, 188) is a long corner with natural playmaking abilities -- three interceptions in each of his first two seasons for the Bearcats.
The football world awaits the camp battle between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill to determine the successor after the retirement of quarterback Drew Brees. But with rumblings that the New Orleans Saints were looking to move up in the first round a few days ago, potentially to draft a quarterback if the one they liked was available, QB might be a position to watch for the Saints next spring.
Kedon Slovis, the USC passer, might be the kind of QB to catch Sean Payton's eye. Through 18 career games for the Trojans Slovis has posted a completion percentage of 70.0%, along with 5,423 passing yards, 47 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, giving him a career NCAA Passing Efficiency mark of 158.2. His ball placement and proficiency could be a fit in Payton's offense.
The SEC is loaded with corners heading into 2021, and Emerson's game deserves more love. He broke up 12 of his 59 targets as a sophomore this past season and only allowed 33 catches for 306 yards. He's a long playmaker on the outside at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds.
Despite it being a big need, the Saints waited until Round 7 to draft a receiver last week (Kawaan Baker). Their current WR depth chart beyond Michael Thomas has Tre'Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway in starting roles, and regardless of who the quarterback is, the Saints need receiving help. Pickens is a 6-foot-3 receiver with 14 TDs over the past two seasons. He tore his ACL in March, but he is still a top receiver in the class and could return late in the season for a final draft push.
Davis would've likely been the first defensive tackle selected this year had he left school -- Christian Barmore was selected by the Patriots in the second round with the 38th overall pick.
Battle became a full-time starter as a sophomore last season and didn't disappoint, earning high marks from the coaches for his play versus the run and the pass. Safeties have been shut out of the first round each of the last two years, but players like Hamilton and Battle will try to change that next spring.
Jobe doesn't come into the '21 season with the recognition of, say, Patrick Surtain II or even Trevon Diggs, but he's a long CB who plays at Alabama and has more than held his own against some of the best players in the country.
Daniels is not yet a first-round lock, but there is a pretty decent chance he gets to that range after the 2021 season. Daniels, a former five-star recruit and freshman starter at USC, came on strong for the Bulldogs down the stretch after returning from a knee injury that took him down in 2019. Though he does not have the strongest arm, Daniels' decision making is sound and he's got the accuracy to be a difference maker. Potentially not having George Pickens at WR this year will hurt, but that UGA offense is well constructed and has some other ball-winners.
