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The NFL was pretty excited about the 21 players who have committed to attend the draft in Las Vegas starting April 28.
The league even broadcast a show on NFL Network to announce their names Thursday evening.
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And there was obviously a press release to hype the upcoming event.
Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Michigan Wolverines walks off the field after losing to the Georgia Bulldogs in the Capital One Orange Bowl for the College Football Playoff semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Some of the names are admittedly exciting. Hopeful No. 1 overall picks Aiden Hutchinson of Michigan and Kayvon Thibodeaux of Oregon, for example, will be in Vegas.
But only two quarterbacks have confirmed they’re attending the festivities. Liberty’s Malik Willis and Mississippi’s Matt Corral are the only two out of the entire 2022 quarterback class who are headed to Las Vegas.
And that suggests stuff:
Either the NFL didn’t invite as many QBs as it usually does because it recognizes this year’s QB class is sub-par and the players might be waiting in the green room past the first round and into the second round on Friday.
Malik Willis #7 of the Liberty Flames reacts during the LendingTree Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Or a bunch of guys the NFL did invite decided it would be better to hang out with family and skip the big production in Vegas.
Whatever the reason, the point is that, for an event that’s supposed to highlight who’s getting picked and then hugging commissioner Roger Goodell, this list actually seems newsworthy because of the players who aren’t expected to attend.
Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh is not on the list.
Pickett, arguably the most NFL-ready quarterback in this draft and one many analysts see as the best of the group, reportedly plans to be in his hometown in New Jersey with his family and fiancee on draft weekend.
And that’s cool. Sometimes guys don’t embrace the idea of embracing the commissioner.
Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett passes against Wake Forest during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Last year, first overall pick Trever Lawrence skipped the draft and stayed home with family. So did Justin Fields.
But Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, and Mac Jones showed up. And got picked in the first round.
This year, quarterbacks such as Desmond Ridder of Cincinnati, Sam Howell of North Carolina, Nevada’s Carson Strong, and others won’t be on the red carpet. And apparently the NFL doesn’t expect them in the first round.
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Oh, yeah, here’s a complete list of the 21 players the NFL says will be at the draft in Las Vegas.