It’s an odd year to be in the market for a quarterback. I can’t help but feel sorry for NFL franchises that are in desperate need of a Day 1 franchise-changer because I don’t know that that guy is out there in free agency or in the 2022 NFL Draft. But, hey – that’s part of the beauty of what the Senior Bowl is. It’s a prospect’s first chance to prove idiots like me wrong, and to get some extended time with NFL coaching staffs. Indeed, the deep evaluation process kicks off the week of February 5th, when the scouting world will turn its eyes to Mobile, Alabama. This is a highly interesting quarterback class – I don’t know if that Week 1 guy is out there, but we’ll see how this process plays out in the coming months. Regardless, there is a wealth of intrigue at the position. Given the traits that some of these guys have, there’s definitely potential to find your team’s starter of the future.
If anyone is in an advantageous spot to take a developmental project at quarterback, it’s Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions. The Lions picked up Jared Goff and an extra first round pick this year (and next year, for that matter) to ship Matthew Stafford off to the Los Angeles Rams. And, while Goff struggled early on and looked like the consolation prize that everyone thought he was, he picked it up in a big way down the stretch. Courtesy of Kyle Meinke for MLive.com:
“Goff finished his first season in Detroit on a tear, completing 69.6% of his passes for 11 touchdowns, just two interceptions and a passer rating of 107.1 in his last five games. That made him the third-highest rated quarterback in the league during that stretch…”
If he can continue on that trajectory, it affords the Lions the luxury of time. They can be competitive with a guy like Goff, but the question is whether or not Goff is a guy that can carry your team to a Super Bowl. Hell, they were 2-5-1 in one-possession games this season. That’s not too far off from a 9-8 football team if you flip some of those outcomes around, and they definitely looked a lot more competitive in 2021 than their record would indicate. Goff is a guy that can stabilize the most important position on the field while the Lions round out the roster around him. But, it also means that they can invest a high draft pick in a guy with quality traits and play the patient game while he develops.
The Senior Bowl announced earlier in the week that Campbell’s staff would be coaching North Carolina’s Sam Howell, Liberty’s Malik Willis, and Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe in the big game on February 5th. Each offers a unique skill set
Howell was once considered a lock to go in the top 10, but his stock has fallen after some inconsistent play in 2021. There has also been some concern about his arm strength, but I’m not as worried about that as I am ball placement and throwing into NFL windows. The comparison I’ve seen the most for Howell’s ceiling is Baker Mayfield, and I love that comparison. He’s a play-maker that has a wealth of arm talent, has shown elite accuracy, an ability to move around in the pocket, and while he’s not “a runner,” he can make plays with his legs. He has good leadership skills, and projects as one of the headliners in this class – there’s no reason Howell shouldn’t be a guy selected at the back stretch of the first round or early on Day 2.
Willis is the most dynamic and explosive quarterback in this draft class from a traits standpoint, but boy has he been difficult to really get a read on because of the talent around him at Liberty. Chief among the concerns about Willis are ball security and the nuance of playing quarterback (stuff like touch…ball placement…etc.). But, man, if you can get this guy in a situation with an offense that utilizes a heavy dose of RPOs with an offensive coaching staff capable of identifying his strong suits and tailoring the offense to it, this could be an electrifying quarterback in the NFL in 2-3 years time. I hark back to the current situation with the Lions – they absolutely have the time to work with a project like Willis.
Then, there’s Zappe – in my opinion, this guy could become a real dark horse in this draft class, and that could start in Mobile. He’s accurate, he can squeeze the ball into tight windows, he’s decisive, he can move around in the pocket to extend plays, and he demonstrated a thorough understanding of the offense at Western Kentucky. These things are crucial to success in the NFL. Zappe didn’t put enough mustard on the deep balls at times, there are some concerns about his level of competition, and he is seen as a bit of a one-year wonder by some scouts. But, like a lot of the other quarterbacks in this class, he’s a project and the traits are there for him to be successful in the league. The offense he ran at Western Kentucky (pretty damn close to the traditional Air Raid) is not one you see in the NFL that often, so that could be a drawback to drafting him. But, again – it’s all about the fit. If he lands in a situation with a coach that knows how to get the most out of him, he could become a quality starter in the league. He’s on that trajectory.
If the Lions were to fall in love with any of these guys, I could easily see them spending their second first round pick on ’em. That pick will come in the 20s somewhere, barring a run to the Super Bowl by the Rams. The Senior Bowl is taking place on Saturday, February 5th, 2022 and will be televised on NFL Network.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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