NFL Draft Rumors: Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks Could Take First-Round Quarterbacks

The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks both traded away their long-time veteran quarterbacks this offseason. In order to replace Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson, the teams might pick a quarterback in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

There’s a chance that Atlanta could pull the trigger on Liberty quarterback Malik Willis with the No. 8 overall draft pick. According to the latest rumors, Seattle has its eyes on Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder.

Falcons General Manager Terry Fontenot said the team hopes to leave the draft with a quarterback, according to ESPN. That doesn’t necessarily mean Atlanta will use its first pick on a signal caller. The 2022 quarterback class is considered to be weak without a surefire franchise player in the group.

Willis is from Atlanta and viewed as the quarterback with the most upside in the draft. The 22-year-old could make sense on a Falcons’ roster that is rebuilding, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The Falcons could look to take a quarterback with the No. 43 overall pick in the second round. Marcus Mariota is signed to a two-year contract and expected to be Atlanta’s starter for the 2022 NFL season.

The Seahawks will be on the clock right after the Falcons at No. 9 overall. Seattle isn’t expected to draft a quarterback with its top pick. Acquiring a late first-round pick and using that selection on a quarterback is an option for Seattle, Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline reports.

The Seahawks wants to trade for a pick toward the end of the first round and draft Ridder, according to Pauline.

Ridder owns the third-most wins in FBS history. Most mock drafts project Cincinnati’s quarterback to be taken in the late-first or early second round.

Drew Lock and Geno Smith are Seattle’s top quarterbacks after trading Wilson. The Seahawks had a winning record in Wilson’s first nine seasons until Seattle finished 7-10 in 2021.

The Falcons have missed the playoffs in four straight seasons.

Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett is likely to be a first-round pick, possibly going ahead of Willis as the first quarterback taken. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell could potentially be a first-round draft pick, as well.

The Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Detroit Lions are top candidates to draft a first-round quarterback.