Mock Draft: The Commanders select Kenny Pickett as QB of the future
The 2021 NFL season has come to a close and thus the Washington Commanders have begun their first offseason under their new name. They are slated to have $50.4M in cap space and hold the No. 11 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
And the largest question is of course the quarterback position. The holy grail of football positions. The “if you do not have this solved then nothing really matters.” Well, it is sorta like that. Nevertheless, Washington certainly does not have that position solved.
Currently, Washington only has one quarterback on the roster, Taylor Heinicke. Kyle Allen is a restricted free agent and Ryan Fitzpatrick is an unrestricted free agent, and he may just retire.
Considering Heinicke is not considered as a long-term option at quarterback by Washington, you can almost guarantee Washington will acquire another quarterback this offseason. Whether via trade, signing a veteran free agent, or selecting one in the draft, take it to the bank.
And in this scenario, Washington selects a quarterback in this seven-round mock draft. Without further ado let’s dive in!
FO presents the first @GrindingMocks mock draft of 2022.
— Football Outsiders (@fboutsiders) February 15, 2022
1⃣#Jaguars: Evan Neal
2⃣#Lions: Aidan Hutchinson
3⃣#Texans: Kyle Hamilton
7⃣#NYGiants: Ahmad Gardner
1⃣1⃣#Commanders: Kenny Pickett
1⃣8⃣#Saints: Malik Willis
3⃣1⃣#Bengals: Bernhard Raimannhttps://t.co/UeCTC6lUyM
Commanders 7-round mock draft
R1, P11 Kenny Pickett QB, Pittsburgh– Pickett is widely considered to be the most “pro-ready” quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. He showed vast improvements from his previous years at Pitt, specifically his arm talent as a redshirt-senior at Pitt. In 2022, there was noticeably more zip on Pickett’s passes. He added that to his ability to read defenses efficiently, he has above-average athleticism and he is accurate to all areas of the field. His hand size, which is outlandishly small at 8 inches (no QB has under 9-inch hands in the NFL) is a valid concern as the NFL ball is bigger than college ball. However, his double-jointed thumb does help him grip the ball better, which should alleviate that concern. The point is Pickett would be ready to start Day 1 for the Commanders.
Pitt QB Kenny Pickett didn’t have his hands measured here in Mobile, but he has a good reason: He’s double jointed, so his thumb naturally points an odd direction, and he’s doing extra exercises to get an accurate measurement at the combine in March. pic.twitter.com/KLMdraG9AC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 31, 2022
R2, P42 Zion Johnson OG, Boston College- With Brandon Scherff’s expected exit, Washington gets a plug-and-play replacement in this former Eagle. Johnson, who transferred to BC from Davidson in 2019, quickly became a staple on the Eagles’ offensive line. He has a strong anchor, quick feet, and has violent hands at the point of attack. He projects to be scheme versatile and has experience at left tackle. Johnson should be a no-brainer to add to an already solid offensive line to protect Pickett.
R3, P73 Christian Watson WR, North Dakota State- You may be noticing a trend: insulate Kenny Pickett with elite protection and multiple receiving threats. Measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 211 pounds at the Senior Bowl, Watson would add noticeable size and physicality to Washington’s receiving room.
However, that is not all he offers. He improved his release in 2021, which he put on display at the Senior Bowl, fluidly releasing from the corners attempts to press him. And his most intriguing trait, is his ability after the catch. He is surprisingly, nimble, and hard to bring down due to his above-average agility and change of direction. Watson would provide a day 1 impact, as a big-bodied (but not slow) target for Kenny Pickett.