Nearly every team that needed help at quarterback going into the 2022 NFL draft wound up getting one. The Steelers picked Kenny Pickett, the Falcons took Desmond Ridder, the Titans landed Malik Willis, the Panthers got Matt Corral and the Commanders added Sam Howell on Day 3.
The Seahawks were the exception to the rule, despite their reported interest in both Ridder and Willis. It seems at least some of that was typical draft season misdirection from the front office.
According to a report by Brady Henderson at ESPN, the Seahawks brass doesn’t think Willis – who was the consensus No. 1 QB prospect in the class coming in – is even close to NFL ready.
“The Seahawks passed on Willis four times before he was taken 86th overall — feeling he was nowhere near NFL-ready, according to one source — and didn’t think enough of the other quarterbacks to take one with any of their nine selections.”
There’s been no reportage yet on exactly why the team passed on Ridder, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume they feel the same way about him. At the very least, there’s probably a quarterback in the 2023 class who they like much more.
