The Daily Briefing Thursday, June 9, 2022

AROUND THE NFL

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is once again putting a pause on his NFL career to devote his time to the medical field.

The former Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets offensive lineman is beginning a residency program at a Montreal-area hospital starting next month, he told the Associated Press. Duvernay-Tardif, who has a medical doctorate, is currently an unrestricted free agent.

“I’m going to prioritize medicine … and we’ll see in September if there’s a fit,” Duvernay-Tardif, 31, said, via the Associated Press. “After eight years in the NFL, and I don’t want to sound pretentious by saying this, but I think I’ve earned the right to do what’s best for me and not just for football and kind of bet on myself a little bit.”

Duvernay-Tardif was the first NFL player to opt out of the 2020 season when he left the Kansas City Chiefs after helping them to a Super Bowl win to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW YORK GIANTS

RB SAQUON BARKLEY sounds upbeat.  Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com:

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley is starting to get his swagger back. For that to happen, it means at some point it was lost.

Barkley said for the first time after Wednesday’s minicamp practice that his confidence took a hit in recent years. He didn’t fully trust his right knee, after he tore his ACL and meniscus early in the 2020 season, and it contributed to his struggles last year.

But things are finally starting to look up after three injury-filled seasons.

“Coming into this [minicamp], focus on my body, work on my body. Doing all the little things necessary to keep my body healthy,” Barkley said. “When you have that, when you can trust your body, your confidence just grows. I would say the difference [from college to now] was I was a way more confident player in college and early in my career than I was prior to last year.

“Now I’m starting to get that swagger back.”

It would be just in time. Barkley, 25, is set to play this season on the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

At one point, that would have seemed incredibly unlikely. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first professional season when he compiled 2,028 total yards. He’s had 2,391 yards in the three seasons since.

Barkley had an ankle injury in 2019, followed by a torn ACL in 2020 and another ankle injury last year. It has been a tough stretch for the star running back, who was still rehabbing the knee at this time last year.

“I’ll tell you I feel a lot better than at this point last year,” Barkley said. “Like you said, I was rehabbing. My body feels good. My body feels strong. I’ve got my strength back. I feel like I got my speed back. I feel like I can trust in my knee again. Trust in myself to make plays and not think about it.”

Without that trust, Barkley struggled last season. He finished with just 593 rushing yards in 13 games. His rushing yards over expectation was minus-0.28 yards per carry.

This offseason has a different feel. The supreme athleticism that made Barkley the No. 2 overall pick seems to have returned. The Giants and new coach Brian Daboll are using him all over the field, to the point that it reminded Barkley of his usage in college at Penn State.

“The routes we are asking him to run, his quickness, his ability to get in and out of breaks, his long speed, it’s all looked good,” Daboll said of what he’s seen from Barkley this spring.

It’s clear Barkley is a major part of the Giants’ new offense, which Daboll said would be built around the team’s skill guys.

Barkley is near the top of that list. He had touchdown receptions out of the backfield in each of the first two mandatory minicamp practices this week.

“Yeah, I see a talented player. I’m glad he’s on our team,” Daboll said. “Look forward to working with him. He’s been great since I’ve been here just on the field, running around. Has been impressive. Again, we got to go out there and do it with pads and under some pressure. Everything we’ve asked him to do to this point, he has done a really nice job.”

The Giants’ offseason workout program ends Thursday. Then they are off until the start of training camp in late July.

But Barkley knows there is more work to do to get ready for the season.

“Yeah, my body feels really good,” he said. “But you have to keep on it. Gotta keep going. Gotta keep pushing myself to keep working, to get stronger, get faster but also maintain the strength and remain healthy throughout this break so I can come in at a high note for camp and the season.”

Being healthy in the spring is the first step in the process. He will then need to remain healthy throughout training camp and over 17 weeks.

It’s only logical to take a wait-and-see approach.

“You can’t get too high on it because it’s just minicamp right now,” Barkley said. “But all that little stuff and gaining confidence in here and this break that we have hopefully catapults and pushes me through camp and into the regular season and beyond.”

WASHINGTON

Jack Del Rio had some political comments on Wednesday that created a furor with the media. He apologized for his choice of the word “dustup” to describe the events of January 6.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

During a Wednesday press conference, Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio referred to the January 6 insurrection as a “dustup at the Capitol.” Later in the day, he expressed remorse for downplaying the incident.

“I made comments earlier today in referencing the attack that took place on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” Del Rio tweeted. “Referencing that situation as a dustup was irresponsible and negligent and I am sorry. I stand by my comments condemning violence in communities across the country. I say that while also expressing my support as an American citizen for peaceful protest in our country. I have fully supported all peaceful protests in America. I love, respect, and support all my fellow coaches, payers, and staff that I work with and respect their views and opinions.”

Despite Del Rio’s support for “peaceful protest,” he spoke out against peacefully protesting during the national anthem in 2016, when he coached the Raiders. At the time, Del Rio called standing for the anthem an “organizational expectation.”

It fairly could be said that it’s an organizational expectation to refrain from gaslighting the public regarding the actual events of January 6, and of trying to compare an orchestrated effort to disrupt the certification of a presidential election to organic eruptions of discontent arising from police misconduct directed at minority citizens. Then again, no one from the Commanders has said anything to suggest that they expect Del Rio not to engage in the dangerous practice of normalizing aberrant, seditious behavior.

It also could fairly be said that Del Rio isn’t really sorry, and that he was told in no uncertain terms that he’d walk back his remarks by others within the organization. Especially given the damage his comments have done to the team’s effort to get free public money for a new stadium.

CAROLINA

QB SAM DARNOLD doesn’t have many believers left, but one of them is Sam Darnold.

David Newton of ESPN.com:

A 17-32 record as an NFL starter and the threat of being replaced during the offseason first by Deshaun Watson and now possibly by third-round pick Matt Corral hasn’t made Carolina Panthers starter Sam Darnold any less confident in his abilities.

“As long as I know what we’re doing, what the defense is doing, I’m confident I can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” Darnold said Tuesday, the first time he has spoken to reporters since offseason workouts began.

Coach Matt Rhule, who hasn’t ruled out bringing in a veteran at some point, went so far as to say Darnold is practicing with an “edge” he hasn’t seen before.

“What Sam has been through this offseason has been very hard,” Rhule said. “Your back’s against the wall. Everyone’s kind of questioning whether you can do this or not. We’ve seen a guy who has shown up who has a little more edge to him. He’s very, very focused.”

But going from focused to one of the best quarterbacks in the league would be a big leap.

Since the New York Jets selected him with the third pick of the 2018 draft, Darnold has consistently ranked as one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL. His total QBR of 33.2 in 2021, his first year with Carolina, ranked 29th among qualified quarterbacks.

He ranked 33rd in 2020 with a 32.9 rating, 25th in 2019 at 45.9 and 28th in 2018 at 45.9.

In four seasons, he has thrown almost as many interceptions (52) as he has touchdown passes (54). He has a 59.8% career completion percentage since 2018 that also ranks among the worst in the league.

Such numbers are why the Panthers were willing to give up three first-round picks and players for Watson, ultimately traded by the Houston Texans to the Cleveland Browns. They are why Carolina remains interested in acquiring a veteran quarterback.

Among those the Panthers are keeping an eye on, according to a league source, is Baker Mayfield, if the Browns agree to pay most of his $18.8 million for 2022 or release him.

“Everyone, including myself, knows the situation,” Darnold said. “But with that being said, it doesn’t change my mindset. I have a great attitude about myself going into every day.”

That mindset is focused on improving his footwork, which has been an issue since he arrived in the NFL.

“There were times last year when my feet got very … just, loose is a good term … chaotic,” Darnold said. “It’s just having confidence in my feet and the system to go out there and put the ball where it needs to be.”

LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Rams lay out some massive coin to extend WR COOPER KUPP for three years.  Jordan Rodrigue and The Athletic:

The Los Angeles Rams have extended wide receiver Cooper Kupp, the team announced Wednesday. The deal is a three-year extension with Kupp scheduled to make $110 million over the next five years, sources told The Athletic.

The extension itself carries $75 million in guaranteed money, multiple sources said.

Kupp is coming off of one of the best receiving seasons in NFL history. He led the league with 145 catches, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2021, becoming the fourth Triple Crown winner in modern NFL history.

The third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft has been a key part of the Rams’ offense and was named Super Bowl MVP after beating the Bengals for the 2021 title.

Kupp is the second key player the Rams have extended this week. On Monday, the team re-worked the contract of defensive tackle Aaron Donald, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.

How likely was this?

Jourdan Rodrigue, Rams beat writer: When Kupp signed his previous deal ahead of the 2020 season, it was reasonable. But between Kupp’s statistics, his emergence as even more of a core player on the Rams’ roster and the dramatically rising receiver market, it became very clear that a raise was coming.

Rams executives and coaches were also quite public about their desire to get this deal done this spring.

What Kupp staying means for the Rams

Rodrigue: Kupp, who is 29, has expressed that he wants to be with the Rams through the rest of his football career and beyond. The timeframe of the deal indicates that, as long as that mutual sentiment exists, Kupp will be able to do so.

In the short-term, Kupp is also aligned with quarterback Matthew Stafford, who agreed to a four-year extension this spring, Donald, and even head coach Sean McVay — who will be extended this summer.

How his contract affects other receivers around the NFL

Rodrigue: Kupp has said from the start of negotiations that he didn’t really care about being the highest-paid receiver in the league (he’s about fourth, depending on which parameters you place around the overall extension versus the “new money”).

But Kupp did want the deal to be “fair,” and the subtext there is the guaranteed money. The $75 million in guarantees owed to Kupp on the three-year extension surpasses total guaranteed money for any other receive.

SEATTLE

Kevin Patra of NFL.com checks in on Seattle’s QB competition:

Geno Smith and Drew Lock are locked in a quarterback battle to become the Seattle Seahawks starter that is destined to go deep into training camp.

Thus far, the competition has been healthy, not acrimonious.

“We both understand that we’re both trying to be the starter for this team,” Lock said Wednesday, via the team’s official website. “We’re not stepping on each other’s shoes, we’re not getting mad at one another. It’s just, ‘All right, he took it that day, I took it this day. I broke us down this time, he broke us down this time.’ They need to hear both of us, they need to feel both of us. It’s been really nice, it’s been really easy. I appreciate the way Geno has handled it, and I hope he appreciates the way I’ve handled it as well.”

Smith hasn’t had a chance to be a regular starter since his days with the New York Jets. Lock lost an offseason QB battle to Teddy Bridgewater while with the Denver Broncos last season.

Lock is attempting to learn from last year’s misstep in Denver and enjoy his new surroundings in Seattle.

“I tried to compare the whole time,” he said. “‘Did Teddy beat me that day? Did I win that day?’ Overall, if you start thinking like that, it’s just not good for your mental. It’s not good for your process of becoming a better quarterback. It’s not about who won that day; it’s about, did I get better today to make the guys around me better? Because if I’m playing my best, the other 10 dudes around me are going to be playing really good football too. So just not comparing. Comparison is the thief of joy is what (former Missouri coach) Barry Odom told me one day when I was in college and that’s kind of stuck with me.”

Lock will likely enter camp with a slight edge given his raw talents, but don’t count out Smith, who is spending his fourth offseason in Seattle. After seeing little time behind Russell Wilson, the 31-year-old is champing at the bit to get another shot at being a starter.

“As far as the reps go, yeah (it’s different),” Smith said of this year compared to previous ones in Seattle. “Getting a lot of reps with the ones, being able to actually rep with the guys I’m going to play with in the game, that’s the difference. But as far as my mentality, it all stays the same. I’ve always prepared the same way since Day 1, and I think that’s the reason I even get this opportunity is because of that.”

Little will be decided until both quarterbacks see action in the preseason to determine the starter. And, hey, maybe before then, another potential starter wiggles free, and Seattle decides to scrap this QB competition completely.

BALTIMORE

The Ravens are looking forward to seeing QB LAMAR JACKSON next week.  Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com:

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that he expects quarterback Lamar Jackson to report to mandatory minicamp next week.

“I know he’s working hard … I fully expect him to come back in great shape,” Harbaugh said. “I’m sure he’s throwing. I’m sure he’s doing a good job. When he gets back here, we’ll be rolling with Lamar.”

Jackson has not participated in the team’s first three weeks of organized team activities, skipping all eight of the voluntary workouts. This is the first time in Jackson’s five-year NFL career that he has chosen not to attend the spring workouts, and Jackson hasn’t given a reason for his absence.

Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP, is entering his fifth-year option, which will pay him $23.016 million this season. If the sides are unable to reach a new deal by February, Baltimore is expected to use the franchise tag on him.

After being absent from the first OTAs last month, Jackson tweeted “Can’t wait to get back” and told teammates that he would return soon. Jackson has been holding private throwing sessions in Florida and California with wide receivers Rashod Bateman and James Proche II, as well as throwing coach Adam Dedeaux.

Last week, Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Jackson will have some catching up to do when he comes back.

“We kind of went back and changed some things and added some things,” Roman said. “There are definitely some things that are new. There are also a bunch of things that he’s pretty well-adjusted to — probably 80% stuff he knows, 20% stuff that we look forward to working on.”

In addition to the schematic changes, the Ravens will have a new look on offense in terms of personnel. After trading Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Arizona Cardinals in April, Baltimore’s new No. 1 wide receiver is Bateman, who played in just seven games with Jackson last season because they both battled injuries. The Ravens also added two pass-catching tight ends in the fourth round (Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely) to complement Mark Andrews and provide more options for a passing attack that finished 13th in the NFL last season.

Along the offensive line, Baltimore invested a first-round pick in starting center Tyler Linderbaum and signed right tackle Morgan Moses in free agency. In the backfield, Mike Davis is the top back until J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, both of whom are coming off torn ACLs, return at some point in training camp.

In total, there could be as many as five different offensive starters in this season’s opener compared to last year’s first game.

PITTSBURGH

The number one QB in Pittsburgh is clearly MITCH TRUBISKY.  Dale Lolley ofPittsburghSports.com:

The Steelers are in the midst of a quarterback competition as they opened their first day of mandatory minicamp here at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

But while there is a competition to see who will replace Ben Roethlisberger as the team’s starting quarterback that will heat up when the team opens training camp July 26, there’s also a very defined pecking order of how things have been run to this point in the offseason program.

Mitch Trubisky is No. 1. Mason Rudolph is No. 2. And rookie Kenny Pickett is No. 3.

It could be a glimpse into how things will be once the regular season begins, as well.

HOUSTON

With the New York Times reporting that the Texans were involved in the massages of QB DESHAUN WATSON, plaintiff attorney Tony Buzbee sees an opportunity for some juicy discovery and another big pocket from which to extract money.  Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com:

Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing all 24 women who have filed civil lawsuits against Deshaun Watson, said his law firm will “soon be joining the Houston Texans organization and others as defendants” in the lawsuits against the quarterback.

On Tuesday, the New York Times reported that the nondisclosure agreement Watson gave to some of the plaintiffs to sign came from the Texans’ director of security, Brent Naccara. The Times also reported that the Texans provided a hotel room at The Houstonian, where several of the massages took place.

“What has become clear is that the Houston Texans organization and their contracting ‘massage therapy company’ facilitated Deshaun Watson’s conduct,” Buzbee said in a statement. “In many of these cases, the Texans provided the opportunity for this conduct to occur. We believe the Texans organization was well aware of Watson’s issues, but failed to act. They knew or certainly should have known.

“We intend to make sure all involved in Watson’s conduct are held accountable, in addition to and including Watson himself.”

The Texans did not respond specifically to the allegations in the New York Times story, but they have said in several statements that the organization was not aware of Watson’s actions until March 2021 when the first lawsuit was filed against the quarterback.

THIS AND THAT

2023 DRAFT

Here are 20 QBs to know for 2023 from Jordan Reid of ESPN.com:

Need a quarterback? Look no further than the 2023 NFL draft class.

After we saw just one first-round passer — and no other QBs taken before pick No. 74 — in 2022, next year’s class promises to have more talent at the position. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young are already being discussed as the potential No. 1 overall pick, and at least three other quarterbacks have Round 1 upside. Numerous others could make a big jump during the 2022 season and emerge as Day 1 or 2 candidates. We’re more than 10 months out, and a lot can change. But there is a ton of talent with this group of passers.

So who are the top names to know for 2023? Where do the best quarterbacks stand out, and where do they still need to improve? And who are the best of the rest — passers to keep an eye on over the coming months and the course of the upcoming college football season? We took a closer look at 20 passers who could be in the draft discussion next spring, including an in-depth breakdown of how the top five stack up. Plus, we answered big quarterback questions, from who will go No. 1 to which teams might be targeting a signal-caller in April.

The top five to know

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 215 pounds

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Where he excels: Stroud got off to a shaky start in 2021 as a first-year starter, but he continued to get better as the season progressed. His growth from the opening week to the miraculous Rose Bowl victory has scouts enamored with Stroud’s potential. That same type of ascension is expected during his second season under center for the Buckeyes. The old saying that one should “scout the player, not the helmet logo” applies for Stroud. A lot will be made of Ohio State quarterbacks failing to produce at the next level, but each presents a different case.

Where he needs work: Scouts want to see that Stroud understands the difference between ball placement and accuracy. He completed nearly 72% of his passes last season and consistently put the ball in the strike zone, but there were times when receivers had to dig the ball out or jump for it. Placing the ball in better areas and putting less stress on receivers at the catch point would bring another dimension to his game and could help him unlock the next stage of his development as a passer. Some other skills Stroud could improve on: manipulating defenders more with his eyes and creating more by using his legs.

Why I’m intrigued with his first-round potential: Instincts, continued growth and high-end decision-making make Stroud a contender for the No. 1 overall selection in April. Despite losing first-round wideouts in Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, the Ohio State offense is expected to be explosive. Stroud will be making his 13th career start, but he has improved in each one, and he finished last season with a career-high 573 passing yards against Utah.

Bryce Young, Alabama

Height: 6 feet | Weight: 194 pounds

Class: Junior

Where he excels: Poise. It’s the singular trait that could set him apart from the other QB prospects in the 2023 class. Look at the comeback victory in overtime against Auburn. Think about how he continued to attack in the national championship game against Georgia despite losing his top two targets in John Metchie III and Jameson Williams in consecutive weeks. There wasn’t much that seemed to faze Young during his first season as a starter.

Where he needs work: Size will be constantly brought up regarding Young and will remain a question mark for teams that rely heavily on size thresholds. Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson and Drew Brees are among the shortest QBs we’ve seen go on to have success at the next level, but all of them have a significantly thicker build than the slender Young. Even so, durability hasn’t been an issue to this point for the Crimson Tide star. On the field, pocket maneuverability is a consistent issue. The ability to all step up into the pocket and create throwing windows inside it stood out for Murray, Wilson and Brees, but Young has a propensity to get stuck at the apex of the pocket without consistently looking to climb into it and deliver on throws. He instead looks to escape out of side exit doors to try to create off-script plays. If Young can become consistent with working up into the pocket, navigating and distributing the ball in that fashion, size won’t be such a concern.

Why I’m intrigued with his first-round potential: The competitive fire and calmness he plays with isn’t normal for a prospect of his age, especially considering he took over under center in Tuscaloosa for two first-round selections. Young has plenty of arm strength and the high-level accuracy to succeed in the NFL. His ability to win within the pocket and create plays outside of the normal confines of the playbook places a tremendous amount of stress on opponent defenses.

Tyler Van Dyke, Miami

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 224 pounds

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Where he excels: Although he was only a redshirt freshman last year, Van Dyke appeared in 10 games (nine starts) and immediately became the leader of the Hurricanes’ attack after D’Eriq King went down with a shoulder injury. Operating from a strong and balanced throwing base, Van Dyke has a strong enough arm to get the ball to each level of the field. He is at his best in the red zone, where 16 of his 25 touchdown passes came from last season (with one interception). He displays great touch and feel when layering the ball.

Where he needs work: Van Dyke was heavily reliant on run-pass option throws as a freshman, and he completed 77% of those types of passes. But he must display more comfort with progression-based passes. Last year’s matchup with North Carolina offered a snapshot of who Van Dyke is as a prospect. He continued to battle until the waning moments of the fourth quarter, but his sight and anticipation for non-RPO passing concepts just weren’t there.

Why I’m intrigued with his first-round potential: A lot is expected of Van Dyke now that he is the unquestioned starter. He is a well-built pocket passer with enough mobility to get out of harm’s way. Now under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, the second-year signal-caller could make significant strides in 2022. The past two Miami quarterbacks selected before the third day of the draft were Steve Walsh (first round of the 1989 supplemental draft by the Dallas Cowboys) and Vinny Testaverde (No. 1 overall in the 1987 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

Will Levis, Kentucky

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 232 pounds

Class: Redshirt senior

Where he excels: After three seasons at Penn State, Levis elected to graduate transfer to Kentucky. Under then-offensive coordinator Liam Coen, he played from a variety of different pre-snap platforms with the Wildcats, experiencing success from under center, in the shotgun, from the pistol and even on designed rollouts. Levis has a snappy three-quarter release, and the ball comes off his hand with energy and velocity. He is at his best when he can turn his back to the defense on play-action passes, reset his eyes and assess the defense. And Levis is also a competitive runner who is fearless when escaping the pocket.

Where he needs work: Decision-making and lower-body stiffness are areas where scouts want to see growth this season. A lot of his deficiencies center around a lack of back hip rotation, which results in erratic accuracy. Levis has only three games over 13 starts in which he didn’t throw an interception. He needs to show more confidence with exhausting all options on progressions, as he tends to prematurely give up on passing concepts and immediately turn into a determined runner. When breaking containment, he loses sight of targets and falls back on his running ability. Levis depends on overpowering and challenging tacklers, but also he needs to better protect himself when working outside of structure. I’d like to see him keep his eyes looking for reappearing targets while on the run.

Why I’m intrigued with his first-round potential: Although the ingredients are there, Levis is a raw prospect. Kentucky has a new playcaller in Rich Scangarello this season, but a lot of similar concepts are expected to remain intact for the Wildcats’ offense, so it will be interesting to see how Levis makes the next step in the system.

Anthony Richardson, Florida

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 236 pounds

Class: Redshirt sophomore

Where he excels: Richardson has a lot of traits evaluators like to see at the position, but he only has 66 career passing attempts and 58 rushes, and he piled up 556 passing yards in 12 games played. He has a stocky and sturdy build, and despite a loopy arm motion, the ball comes off his hand with plenty of energy. But he also understands when and how to put touch on his passes. And with his downhill rushing ability and vision as a ball carrier, he can be an extension of the running game.

Where he needs work: Richardson rotated every other series last season with now-Arizona State quarterback Emory Jones, so he hasn’t had many opportunities to remain on the field for an extended period of time. And Richardson had five interceptions in the eight games during which he saw action. His decision-making centers around confidence in his arm strength, which can get him into trouble often. Being more decisive and demonstrating more comfort and consistency when playing within the confines of the pocket are things that scouts want to see next season.

Why I’m intrigued with his first-round potential: Richardson will be in a new offense under new coach Billy Napier as he enters his redshirt sophomore season as the unquestioned starter. And Richardson has the potential to generate excitement because of his high-end traits. But right now, it’s simply only that.

Best of the Rest

Brennan Armstrong, Virginia

Armstrong posted school records for passing yards (4,449), completions (326) and passing touchdowns (31) in 2021. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound left-handed thrower has made strides with his footwork and mechanics. He also can make things happen on the ground. Now under the tutelage of first-time head coach Tony Elliott, Armstrong will be the nucleus of what has the potential to be a highly explosive offensive attack.

Malik Cunningham, Louisville

Cunningham has a slender 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame and shows suddenness as both a passer and rusher, but he is a development QB prospect. I saw his seven-touchdown performance (five passing, two rushing) against Duke live last season and got a glimpse at his potential. Cunningham’s playing style forces defenses to defend every blade of grass; he is a game-changing player who can create and assemble explosive plays in bunches with his arm and his legs.

Jake Haener, Fresno State

Haener’s career began at Washington, but he transferred to Fresno State in 2019. In 13 starts last season, he finished with 4,096 passing yards, 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Haener is a fearless risk-taker who has the confidence that he can fit a football through a coin slot when testing throwing windows. His tape shows lots of high and low moments, but that comes from his playing style. While he won’t meet many size thresholds for some teams (6-foot-1, 195-pounds), he has similar traits to some of the more successful smaller backup QBs in the league, including Case Keenum and Taylor Heinicke.

Jaren Hall, BYU

Hall finished last season with 2,583 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns to only five interceptions and 307 rushing yards in 10 starts last season. He was formerly a member of the Cougars’ baseball team (2019 and 2020), and a lot of his throwing mechanics are reminiscent of an outfielder. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he has bouncy and active feet in the pocket. Hall’s consistency will need to improve in 2022, and I’d like to see him stay on the field after he battled through cracked ribs and an ankle injury last season.

Sam Hartman, Wake Forest

The 6-foot-1, 208-pounder is at the center of an unconventional offense focused on run-pass options, and Hartman’s specialty is reacting after putting defenders in a bind. He displays an average arm and is at his best when able to attack the underneath areas of the field. But his 57.2% career completion rate suggests he needs to become more consistent with his ball placement and touch on deep passes.

Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

After making appearances in 21 games (15 starts) while at Virginia Tech, Hooker elected to transfer to Tennessee before the 2021 season. At 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, he is a calm and mechanically sound passer in coach Josh Heupel’s spread, hurry-up and shred offense — which allows Hooker to play freely with a lot of one-step dropbacks. He recorded career highs in passing yards (2,945) and touchdowns (31), and he set the single-season program record for completion rate (68.2%). Hooker will be a 25-year-old rookie at the start of his NFL career.

KJ Jefferson, Arkansas

A stoutly built prospect at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Jefferson is still refining his game and figuring out the details of playing the position. He closed last season with 2,676 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 664 rushing yards and another score on the ground. As a passer, Jefferson generates a lot of his power from his upper body, which helps him get plenty of zip on throws. But that causes his accuracy to be hit or miss in stretches. Jefferson is a high-level competitor, but he often tries to escape and execute rather than take the play that is given to him.

Phil Jurkovec, Boston College

After transferring from Notre Dame following the 2019 season, Jurkovec started in 10 games in 2020 at BC. Many were excited to see him make a leap in 2021, but the 6-foot-5, 226-pound passer suffered a fractured right wrist during Week 2, which sidelined him for the next eight games. Jurkovec has a lot of physical traits and shows rhythm and timing in the short to intermediate areas, but his deep accuracy will need to improve. His vertical throws tend to flutter. Jurkovec is mobile enough to evade and pick up yards in vacated areas, but his decision-making has to get better.

Devin Leary, NC State

A 6-foot-1, 212-pound conductor of the spread attack for the Wolfpack, Leary flourished during his first season as the full-time starter. His 35 touchdown passes broke the team’s previous single-season mark set by Philip Rivers (34) in 2003. Leary is decisive, has an explosive throwing motion from the pocket and isn’t afraid to attack the intermediate and deep areas outside the hashmarks. Many NC State coaches rave about his competitiveness.

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina

The maestro of one of the most creative offenses in the country, McCall has thrived during his career with the Chanticleers. Their scheme works tirelessly to tie the eyes of defenders in knots, and McCall is efficient in making the right decisions at the right time. McCall finished last season with 2,873 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He has below-average arm strength, but the 6-foot-3, 210-pound QB takes advantage of voids created in the defense. Executing pro-style concepts and reads will continue to be the biggest hurdle for McCall.

Tanner McKee, Stanford

McKee came off the bench during last season’s opener against Kansas State and quickly claimed the starting role for Stanford. He finished with 2,327 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and he tied a freshman record (Steve Stenstrom in 1991) for single-season TD tosses over his 10 games (nine starts). At 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds, McKee is an in-rhythm and on-time passer who has experience from various different pre-snap platforms.

Spencer Rattler, South Carolina

Rattler went from the 2022 draft’s QB1 race to a backup on his own team at Oklahoma. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder transferred to South Carolina to play with the Gamecocks and attempt to recreate the buzz that surrounded him prior to last year. A talented passer and savvy mover in the pocket, Rattler lets the ball go with a quick flick of the wrist, showcasing plenty of arm strength and accuracy. Rattler’s biggest issue has always been his all-or-nothing approach, and he needs to develop patience and discipline in some places.

Kedon Slovis, Pittsburgh

A touch, timing and anticipation passer with limited arm strength and mobility, Slovis is comfortable when working inside the framework of the offense. He thrives off taking advantage of the underneath areas. After transferring from Southern California to Pitt after last season, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound passer will now be in a new yet similar offense with Pat Narduzzi.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

Thompson-Robinson contemplated declaring for the NFL draft this year, but he elected to return for his fifth season. He has started 27 games over the past three seasons, and he holds a spot in the top five in program history for passing yards (7,541), completions (594) and touchdown passes (61). The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Bruins senior is a powerful thrower who has struggled with consistency. Last year’s matchup with USC provides a synopsis of his career as a whole: A six-touchdown performance (four passing, two rushing) began with two interceptions in the first quarter.

Cameron Ward, Washington State

A wild card to keep an eye on during the upcoming season, Ward was one of the best-kept secrets in Texas during the 2020 recruiting cycle primarily because he played in the wing-T offense in high school. He joined Incarnate Word and lit up the FCS ranks during his two seasons there, setting program records in career passing yards (6,908) and touchdowns (71) in only 20 games played. He is a 6-foot-2, 223-pound passer with a sudden sidearm release. Scouts are already intrigued by his skill set but want to see how he performs against better opponents after moving to Washington State.

Big questions

Will Young, Stroud or someone else be the first QB off the board?

It’s still early, but if I had to make the call right now, I’d say Stroud. With his high-end traits and upward trajectory, it’s easy to see why a team could fall in love with the Ohio State signal-caller’s game and make him the first player at the position off the board. Young and Stroud will likely be attached at the hip throughout the season and pre-draft process as QB1 candidates, similar to what we saw with Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota in 2015.

How many QBs will go in Round 1?

Coming out of summer scouting, Young and Stroud are the only two QBs I see as likely first-round selections. How many first-round QBs we’ll see is dependent on how many of these prospects take the next step in their development. It is certainly possible that many will, but it’s not guaranteed. Levis and Richardson are toolsy passers with first-round traits, but they both still need to go out and prove it over the duration of a season. We’ll see who else emerges over the next 10 months.

At this point in the process, what NFL team most needs to draft a QB to build around?

Seattle Seahawks. They are content with a QB competition between Drew Lock and Geno Smith for 2022, but it’s clear the team doesn’t have a long-term solution under center. And considering Seattle is still in the early stages of a rebuild, it’s hard to imagine it not being in position to address quarterback in April. General manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll appear fully invested in seeing how this season goes with the current group and then looking at the 2023 class if they’re not satisfied.

What is a sleeper team to watch in the QB conversation for April?

Philadelphia Eagles. Jalen Hurts is the unquestioned starter in 2022, but a lot of this season hinges on his continued development as a passer. GM Howie Roseman gave the franchise plenty of flexibility after a pre-draft trade with the New Orleans Saints provided Philadelphia with an extra first-round pick in 2023, and he isn’t one to be shy when pursuing a signal-caller. If Hurts is stagnant this fall, look for the Eagles to be at the center of the race for a QB next spring.