The 2022 NFL draft is desperate for a quarterback prospect to rise up the board and take control of this year’s weak class, and it looks like Pitt’s Kenny Pickett might just be that guy.
He may not be in the top-10 conversation just yet, but Pickett is starting to find his way into most first-round mock drafts, such as this latest projection from CBS Sports.
This mock has Pickett landing with the Detroit Lions at No. 28th overall pick as the eventual replacement for Jared Goff, making him the third and final quarterback to be selected in the first round.
Mississippi’s Matt Corral is the first quarterback off the board in this projection, landing with the Washington Football Team at No. 7 overall, while Nevada’s Carton Strong heads to the Carolina Panthers with the No. 13 pick.
That leaves the likes of Liberty’s Malik Willis and North Carolina’s Sam Howell waiting until Day 2 to hear their names called.
The Lions’ first pick in this mock isn’t surprising, as they opt for Oregon edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux at No. 1 overall. The No. 2 pick is a bit more of an eyebrow-raiser, with the Houston Texans taking Michigan edge defender Aidan Hutchinson over other top prospects like LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.
To check out the full first-round projection at CBS Sports, click here.
