Quarterbacks fall in NFL draft

This year’s NFL draft quarterback class was considered far weaker than in recent years, but no one predicted them to fall this far. 

Just one quarterback, University of Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, was picked in the first round. Pittsburgh’s all-time leading passer will get to stay put after being drafted 20th overall in Thursday’s first round by the Steelers. 

After Pickett came off the board, the other quarterbacks were forced to endure a lengthy wait. 

Several teams needing a quarterback focused on other positions in the second round — the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks passed on quarterbacks twice and the Carolina Panthers also passed on the position. 

The Falcons (Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder) and Panthers (Ole Miss’ Matt Corral) finally addressed the position in the third round on Friday. 

Liberty’s Malik Willis was projected to be a first-round pick and was the top-ranked quarterback by Pro Football Focus and ESPN entering the Draft.  

But Willis — who began his college career at Auburn before transferring to Liberty — wasn’t selected until the third round, eventually going 86th overall to the Tennessee Titans. 

The Washington Commanders took University of North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell with the first pick in the fifth round at No. 144 overall.

According to ESPN, this year’s draft marks the third time ever that just one quarterback was taken in the first two rounds in the past 30 years.