The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to draft a quarterback in 2022 and these options have been compared to some interesting players.
The Steelers are getting closer to the 2022 NFL Draft as each day ticks by. They have gone all in at scouting these quarterbacks in the class and trying to gauge who they want the most. They seem to have some favorites, but that could need a trade-up, which the team might not be able to afford.
There have been many things said about all of these draft prospects. Many reporters and evaluators have expressed their opinions on these players with their strengths, weaknesses, and potential. Some have also given their thoughts on which current or former NFL player these signal-callers remind them of the most.
Carson Strong is compared to Trevor Siemian and Drew Bledsoe.
Carson Strong has one of the strongest and most accurate arms in this draft class. He created a nice collegiate career for himself during his time in Nevada. One of the biggest issues with this player is his lack of mobility.
The NFL has been forcing teams into looking for athletes that excel at their respective positions and quarterbacks have been no different. Strong is basically a statue back there that will not move from the pocket very much. That will be a hindrance at the next level.
He has been compared to some interesting names by some evaluators. Siemian has not had a great career, but the two do play similar games with not much mobility. Bledsoe is a better comparison and would lead to a better career if Strong would be able to produce at that level. He just seems to be playing in the wrong era as mobility is almost required in today’s NFL.
Sam Howell is compared to Chase Daniel, Baker Mayfield, and Jalen Hurts.
Sam Howell is currently on the brink of getting into the first-round conversation. He is expected to go at some point late on day one or on day two. That is a long fall from grace as many thought of him as the best quarterback in this draft class heading into the 2021 college football season.
He didn’t have a terrible year in 2021, but his numbers did decline some. His team was not the best around him and that could’ve hurt his draft stock a lot. His performance on Saturdays could be from the lack of talent around him, many that defend him claim this.
Those elite players always find a way to make those around them better and Howell was not able to accomplish that. He is a good player with a strong arm and good mobility. He can scramble when necessary and truck defenders when called upon. This mobility is what the Steelers are looking for.
Many see him and immediately see Baker Mayfield and that is a fair comparison. The two even look alike physically. Howell is said to be more athletic than Mayfield, but less accurate with throwing the ball. That would be interesting to bring a younger Mayfield-type onto the Steelers. Jalen Hurts might be the more reasonable comparison as Daniel would be if his football life turns into a career backup.
Desmond Ridder is compared to Alex Smith and Dak Prescott.
Desmond Ridder is a player that many evaluators are torn on. Either they think he is one of the top quarterbacks in this class and going up draft boards or something else. Some also believe that he is not worth a first-round pick, and many should wait till the second to third round to hopefully pick him.
The Steelers have shown a ton of interest in this player coming out of Cincinnati. He helped build that Bearcats program into a top team in the college ranks. He has done nothing but win during his time in college and his success speaks for itself.
The biggest concern with this player is his lack of consistency in his play and that can lead to inaccuracy in his throws. He is also very skinny so that could lead to many injuries like Lamar Jackson has been dealing with. Ridder has a ton of talent that could translate over to the NFL despite him not playing great teams every week.
The comparison to Alex Smith is a great one as both helped build up a program before being drafted into the NFL. A young Smith-type would be a great addition for the Steelers. Both have mobility coming out of college with some question marks. The Prescott comparison doesn’t make much sense as they play different types of football.
Matt Corral has been compared to Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr, and Russel Wilson.
Matt Corral is another signal-caller that was getting a lot of buzz before the 2021 season. His hype continued throughout most of the year, but it has died off. Many don’t see him as NFL ready as before and that has stopped his draft stock. This could lead to him slipping to pick 20 for the Steelers to consider.
Many project him in the first round still at some point. He is a solid player with an underrated arm talent. That arm strength gets overlooked by his ability to find ways of keeping plays alive. He is a pocket guy that finds smart ways of navigating pressure.
His mobility is more of a defensive-minded approach to scrambling down the field. He won’t tuck the football away and run in the first sight of opposition. That is one of his best strengths of his game and could help him develop into a solid starter in this league, which is something the Steelers want.
The three comparisons above are fair, but Corral probably won’t be the next Russel Wilson. He is still going to have to figure out NFL offenses and be brought into that learning curve slowly. He could turn into a player with Russel Wilson’s mobility and Derek Carr’s arm strength. That would be a tremendous value in the first round if he develops.
Kenny Pickett has been compared to Derek Carr and Andy Dalton.
Kenny Pickett is a University of Pittsburgh product, and a lot of Steelers fans would like him to stay here. Many still have the Dan Marino blues and think that this could be another time where that situation plays out again. This player is good, but he is not at the level Marino was at.
This prospect has a weaker arm than others in this draft class, but he is accurate. His short and medium-level throws are normally on point, and he does bring mobility with his game. Pickett has also been in a more pro-style offense, which gives him a leg up on these other signal-callers in this draft.
He is the most pro-ready out of every quarterback up to be selected in late April. He has the lowest ceiling and he could be at his highest level of development now. Many expect him to go in the top ten when the picks start rolling in, which isn’t good news for the Steelers.
Derek Carr seems like a good comparison as he also displays mobility, but Carr also has a stronger arm. Dalton in his prime also makes some sense as well for Pickett. He is not going to do anything super special, but he can help your team win a lot of football games with a nice cast around him.
Malik Willis has been compared to Mike Vick, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts.
Malik Willis seems to be the number one quarterback on the board by most evaluators. He is a raw talent coming out of the small program of Liberty. He was able to put up great performances and catch the eye of many scouts.
The Steelers have shown a ton of interest in this player. This has led to many believing that he is their top target on draft day. That will only become a reality if the Steelers can find a way of trading up high enough to select this player. That is going to be a major focus of media coverage as the draft gets closer.
Taking Willis will require a trade-up to potentially the number five overall pick or higher. He has the strongest arm of anyone in this draft and has great mobility. His speed is freakish and something that no coach can teach. Willis has the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this class, but he is a gamble.
Mike Vick and Lamar Jackson are fair comparisons with their mobility factors. Willis has a stronger arm than both. He is also better in both arm strength and mobility than Jalen Hurts has. The main thing with this player will be focusing on his strength and trying to adjust him to the NFL level as much as possible.
These quarterbacks are not held in very high regard in this draft class. There are some interesting options that could turn out to be some of their NFL comparisons.