"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" with this upcoming QB draft.
I was all over us drafting a QB last year for 2 main reason - deepest 1st round talent and us with a relatively high pick (for us at 14)
I am going to look at this upcoming draft class from a positive angle listed in no particular order:
1- Yes, the QB pool is much lighter but with 5 teams drafting QB's high in the first last year then that eliminates those 5 teams from this weak QB market - Plus
2 - We have now moved up to the 12th spot - Plus
3 - New GM/HC - will be open to drafting a QB high while I think Spelly didn't want to admit the contract with KC was a mistake and settled for a 3rd round pick - Plus
4 - There is maybe 2 consensus Top 10 picks at QB - Pickett (whom I like the best) and maybe Matt Corral from Ole Miss? Meaning, we might not have to move up too much to get our guy - Plus
(I know this is a stretch right now because the closer the draft gets the better some of these QB's will look for needy teams but just going by right now from talent evaluators)
5 - Then you add the "rumor" mill of QB's movement for 2022 - guys like Rodgers, Wilson, Watson, and second tier Mayfield - this will fill some spots for teams ahead of us in the draft - Plus
6 - Ahead of us in the draft in need of QB are: Lions at 2, Texans at 3??, Giants at 5&7, Panthers at 6, Falcons at 8, Broncos at 9, and Redskins a pick before us at 11 - not a plus but...
are teams like the Lions, Texans, and Giants going to draft a QB at 5 or above in a draft loaded at other positions (DE/CB) and no consensus Top 5 QB??? Maybe but maybe not. So the Giants, who might be in the (Rodgers/Wilson/Watson) market have picks 5 and 7. Let's pretend the Giants get there QB in the FA market. That leaves the Panthers at 6 who clearly need a QB but might also get that answered in the offseason. If not, we would have to make a deal with the Giants at 5 or 7 to get our Top evaluated QB (Pickett maybe) ...Plus because we are in range to move up from 12 to 7 or even 5 and not have to give up the farm like in all the past 100 drafts when we are always in the teens and the Top QB's go in the Top 5. Again, opportunity knocks but not often.
7 - Last but not least (not trying to start another thread) but new GM/HC and Cousins? If Cousins is traded to one of those teams drafting above us then that serves us twofold - eliminates another team that drafts before us - Maybe, and assuming we get a first or low second in a cousins deal we have the ammo to move up into 5 or 7...could be Plus.
Full 2022 NFL Draft Order