USAT: Washington Wire audio clip

USAT: Washington Wire

Jan 18, 2022

The Washington Football Team will be in the quarterback business in 2022. Washington will likely be aggressive in seeking a veteran quarterback before the 2022 NFL draft, but if that pursuit fails, then it’s all about landing one of the draft’s top passers. - Recent mock drafts have already connected Washington with Matt Corral of Ole Miss. A new mock draft by Vinnie Iyer of The Sporting News is out, and he has Washington going with a quarterback at No. 11 — just not Corral. - Iyer’s mock draft has two quarterbacks off the board in the first nine picks, with Malik Willis going No. 6 to the Panthers and Corral going No. 9 to the Broncos. - Who does that leave Washington with? How about Pitt’s Kenny Pickett: - Washington got some flashes from Taylor Heinicke while Ryan Fitzpatrick’s bridge season was a total injury washout. But it cannot move forward and expect to tap fully into its promising passing game without a confident franchise QB made for a big market. Pickett has surged into first-round consideration with other big-name QBs fading thanks to outstanding play, which made the Panthers a formidable ranked offensive-minded power in the ACC. He has natural deep-ball accuracy and football intelligence. He also has that underrated Joe Burrow-like swagger. - You have to like this move if you’re Washington. Pickett falling to No. 11 is almost a perfect scenario. He’s the most polished quarterback in this year’s class, and the extra year he stayed in college he really blossomed as a quarterback. - There is a lot to like about Pickett’s game. He is an underrated athlete, with a plus arm. He’s accurate and continues to improve. Yes, his trajectory sounds a bit like Burrow, but let’s not get too carried away. - If Kenny Pickett is the pick for Washington in April at No. 11, the franchise should be happy. Of course, a lot can and will happen long before then. -   -   - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Washington Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Washington Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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