The Indianapolis Colts entered the offseason with a lot of question marks at the quarterback position. Despite solid numbers, 2021 starter Carson Wentz caught the ire of team ownership and fans alike thanks to his left-handed throws and late-season collapse in Jacksonville. Soon after, Chris Ballard and the Colts dealt Wentz and brought Matt Ryan to the team. Despite this move, Ryan is on the backend of his career and is not the long-term solution in Indianapolis. With that in mind, we’ll be taking a look at potential quarterback targets in the 2022 NFL Draft for the Colts. Today we take a look at Matt Corral from Ole Miss.
MEASURABLES
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 205
40 Yard: –
10 Yard: –
Arm Length: 30 3/4″
Hand Size: 9 5/8″
Vertical: –
3 Cone: –
Broad Jump: –
Bench: –
POSITION SPECIFIC
Positives in Pass Game: Corral took a big step forward in 2021 when it came to working through his progressions and taking what the defense was giving him. This is evidenced by his willingness to take check-downs and not force plays that are not there. This, in turn, has helped Corral avoid the mass turnover events that plagued his game in 2020. He has a quick release and delivers a crisp, tight spiral on his throws. He has above-average arm strength for a quarterback on the smaller side. He ripped the ball down the field with ease several times during the film I watched. He does a nice job manipulating the pocket with his mobility, giving his receivers a chance to get open.
Negatives in Pass Game: He benefited from a heavy dose of RPO usage in college that kept him from routinely having to read the entire field. This could be a cause for concern at the next level. Corral will sometimes attempt to aim shorter throws, leading to some slips in accuracy. In addition, he tends to hold the deep ball a touch too long, a trait that won’t work with faster targets in the NFL.
Positives in Run Game: Corral is an athletic and elusive runner who can make defenses pay with his legs. This makes him a viable threat in an offense that capitalizes on the athleticism of a mobile quarterback and strong running game.
Negatives in Run Game: He does not do a good job of avoiding contact when he takes off as a runner. This is a big negative, and combined with his smaller frame, durability could be an issue at the next level.
THE WRAP-UP
Summary: Corral is a quarterback prospect that could potentially fall into the Colts’ lap – depending on how the draft shakes out in the first round. He has the traits to succeed at the next level and possibly grow into a franchise quarterback. The added benefit of sitting behind Matt Ryan for two seasons and learning the offense would make this a slam dunk for Chris Ballard and the Colts.
Injury Concerns: Corral took the rare approach of playing in his team’s bowl game to end his college career and suffered a high ankle sprain in the process. However, Corral looks to be fully healthy again despite the scary moment, and the injury should have no long-term impact.
Character/Off-Field Concerns: Stories and reports are circulating about concerns with Corral’s maturity. Those seem to stem from him posting about privilege and getting into a fight in high school. The real story seems to be that the quarterback got in one little fight, and some journalists got scarred. His willingness to play for his teammates in last year’s bowl game says a lot about his leadership and attitude. While he does likely have some growing up to do at just 23 years old, he should not be a character concern in the locker room.
Projected Role: Backup with Starting Potential
Strong Points: Mobility, Progressions, Pocket Presence
Weak Points: Size, Full-field Reads, Deep Ball Timing
Exposures: Alabama (2021), Arkansas (2021), Louisville (2021)
