Finding a starting quarterback in the NFL is hard work, and most players who get picked at the position will not pan out as hoped.
Teams that took quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft have found that out first hand, and some recent roster moves around the league have helped to cement that class as one of the worst ever for quarterbacks.
Of the nine quarterbacks taken in that class, only one of them — Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers — is a starter in the NFL, and he is the only one out of that group who is still with the team that selected them.
Here is a quick run down of where the first eight quarterbacks in that class are right now, including some recent roster moves featuring the top-two quarterbacks — Kenny Pickett and Desmond Ridder — taken in that class.
Kenny Pickett (No. 20 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Pickett was just traded by the Cleveland Browns to the Las Vegas Raiders and is now already on his fourth team in the NFL, having been traded three times. He has a Super Bowl ring and should have a nice career as a backup, but as the first quarterback taken in a class, this is a disappointing career path so far.
Desmond Ridder (No. 74 overall, Atlanta Falcons)
Like Pickett, Ridder has also already played for four teams in the NFL and will have to join a fifth to continue his career after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday. He was originally picked by the Atlanta Falcons and has played for the Arizona Cardinals, Raiders and Bengals.
Malik Willis (No. 86 overall, Tennessee Titans)
After failing to secure the starting job with the Titans, Willis is now a backup with the Green Bay Packers.
Matt Corral (No. 94 overall, Carolina Panthers)
Corral never threw a pass in the NFL and is no longer in the league, having most recently played for the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL.
Bailey Zappe (No. 137 overall, New England Patriots)
Zappe had a brief run as a starter with the Patriots, but he never solidified the job and has spent time as a backup with the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.
Sam Howell (No. 144 overall, Washington Commanders)
Howell showed some potential as a starter for Washington during the 2023 season, throwing for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns. The downside: He also threw a league-leading 21 interceptions. After being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles this preseason, he is now on his third team.
Chris Oladokun (No. 241 overall, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Oladokun was the second of the Steelers’ two quarterback picks in this class and never even made the roster. He was cut after the initial training camp and ended up as a depth piece in Kansas City.
Skylar Thompson (No. 247 overall, Miami Dolphins)
Thompson was forced into a starting role for a playoff game for the Dolphins but never really established himself as a long-term option. He was in training camp with the Steelers this season and played well, but is likely to lose out on a numbers game and be seeking a third team.
Of these eight quarterbacks, four have already played for at least three teams before the end of their rookie contracts.
Purdy, who was oddly enough the last quarterback taken in this class, is the only one who has found success. But even he is not good enough to salvage what has been a complete dud of a quarterback class.
