Washington Football Team Mock Draft Roundup 3.0
Throughout the year and leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, we will update our Washington Football Team Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Washington Football Team from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for Washington:
CBS Sports - Chris Trapasso (1/20)
11. Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
Corral needs polish, but the quick release and athleticism make him an worthwhile quarterback choice here for the Washington Football Team.
ESPN - Mel Kiper (1/19)
11. Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Time for the first quarterback off the board. You might be surprised that it's Willis, but you really shouldn't be. He was in the QB1 mix all fall before he faded a little bit in the last stretch of the regular season. The more tape I watch of his past two seasons and the more I talk to evaluators in the league, the more I like him. Put simply, Willis is the most talented quarterback in this class. He didn't always get to show that at Liberty, which didn't have much NFL talent around him. (He was sacked an astounding 51 times in 2021.) This is a dual-threat signal-caller -- he rushed for 1,822 yards and 27 touchdowns over the past two seasons -- with a powerful arm. I'm really excited to see him compete against the other top QBs in the Senior Bowl in a couple weeks.
Like Denver, Washington could be in the veteran QB market, but I like the fit with Willis. Washington can't go into the season with Taylor Heinicke as the starter.
The Athletic - Dane Brugler (1/19)
11. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Washington has a poor track record of drafting quarterbacks in the early rounds. Since the merger in 1970, the franchise has drafted eight quarterbacks in the top 100 picks, and only one (Jay Schroeder) of the eight had a winning record with the organization. That means Washington is due, right? Pickett doesn't have an explosive arm, but he is accurate from various platforms and his football IQ makes him NFL ready.
PFF - Austin Gayle (1/17)
11. Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
Washington needs to get aggressive when it comes to upgrading the quarterback position. The Taylor Heinicke experiment has run its course following a 2021 campaign that resulted in a bottom-five finish in PFF grade.
Ole Miss' Matt Corral will be in the conversation for top quarterback in the 2022 class after wrapping up his Rebels career with back-to-back 85.0-plus PFF grades (2020 and 2021). He is currently ranked as the No. 21 overall player and No. 2 quarterback behind Kenny Pickett on PFF's draft board.
Baltimore Sun - C.J. Doon (1/14)
11. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
It's pretty clear that Taylor Heinicke is not the long-term answer. With Washington officially rebranding this offseason, what better time to draft a franchise quarterback? The 6-4, 215-pound Ridder put together a strong senior season to lead the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff, ranking among the nation's top 10 quarterbacks in accurate pass rate and deep passing grade, according to PFF.
Athlon Sports - Bryan Fischer (1/13)
11. Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
What a difference a year makes for Pickett, who goes from Day 3 selection to the first QB off the board as Washington buys in on his upside as an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke. His grit and determination will, if nothing else, earn him a fan in Ron Rivera.
San Diego Union Tribune - Eddie Brown (1/13)
11. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Team That Shall Be Named in February could lose some significant contributors to its offensive line in free agency, but there's no bigger need than who will be handling the snaps. Unfortunately, the top two quarterback prospects are already off the board. Wilson's ability to threaten a defense at every level would pair nicely with Terry McLaurin.
USA Today - Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (1/12)
11. Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
Should Washington be the first team to select a quarterback at this slot, this draft would go down as a modern anomaly, as a passer has been taken in the top three picks in every year since 2013. No matter how the market pans out, Washington should establish itself as a buyer after learning in a Week 17 drubbing just how far this team is from catching the Cowboys in the NFC East. Corral's ankle injury in the Sugar Bowl might complicate his draft projection, but he elevated himself into the QB1 conversation thanks to the strides he made with his ball placement and risk calculation.
For The Win - Charles McDonald (1/12)
11. Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State
Washington gets a tackle to give them a strong duo on the edges. Charles Leno Jr. and Ikem Ekwonu would give plenty of time to whoever disappoints at quarterback next season.
The Draft Network - Joe Marino (1/10)
11. Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Washington has to feel good about the talent scheduled to return along the offensive line, skill positions, and defense in general. Plus, they have plenty of cap space to continue adding. What is missing is an exciting direction at quarterback. Taylor Heinicke is a perfectly fine backup and spot starter, but he isn't the type of talent worth building around.
Desmond Ridder is arguably the most complete package of size, arm talent, athletics, and pedigree in the rising crop of quarterbacks. He has a big arm and is a dynamic athlete. I love the way he would fit into Scott Turner's offense, which features plenty of manufactured throws and deep shots. Ridder's big arm can elevate the scheme and help advance the Washington offense forward.
MORE TEAMS: All NFL Team Mock Draft Roundups
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