The Washington Football Team will be in the quarterback business in 2022. Washington will likely be aggressive in seeking a veteran quarterback before the 2022 NFL draft, but if that pursuit fails, then it’s all about landing one of the draft’s top passers.
Recent mock drafts have already connected Washington with Matt Corral of Ole Miss. A new mock draft by Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News is out, and he has Washington going with a quarterback at No. 11 — just not Corral.
Iyer’s mock draft has two quarterbacks off the board in the first nine picks, with Malik Willis going No. 6 to the Panthers and Corral going No. 9 to the Broncos.
Who does that leave Washington with? How about Pitt’s Kenny Pickett:
Washington got some flashes from Taylor Heinicke while Ryan Fitzpatrick’s bridge season was a total injury washout. But it cannot move forward and expect to tap fully into its promising passing game without a confident franchise QB made for a big market. Pickett has surged into first-round consideration with other big-name QBs fading thanks to outstanding play, which made the Panthers a formidable ranked offensive-minded power in the ACC. He has natural deep-ball accuracy and football intelligence. He also has that underrated Joe Burrow-like swagger.
You have to like this move if you’re Washington. Pickett falling to No. 11 is almost a perfect scenario. He’s the most polished quarterback in this year’s class, and the extra year he stayed in college he really blossomed as a quarterback.
There is a lot to like about Pickett’s game. He is an underrated athlete, with a plus arm. He’s accurate and continues to improve. Yes, his trajectory sounds a bit like Burrow, but let’s not get too carried away.
If Kenny Pickett is the pick for Washington in April at No. 11, the franchise should be happy. Of course, a lot can and will happen long before then.
