The Willis to Steelers stuff makes no sense. If you think he is the first QB taken he is gone way before the Steelers draft. The Steelers don't have the draft capital to make sense to move way up, particularly given there many needs. They are also still thinking about winning this year. Willis is not going to help this year.
Pro Football Network's Oliver Hodgkinson said Liberty QB Malik Willis "wowed" teams with his workout at the NFL Combine.
The speedy Willis did not run the 40-yard dash but impressed during throwing drills at the Combine. "His arm talent was on full display, drawing cheers from the assembled crowd and excitement from the commentary box," Hodgkinson said. "Following his stellar performance at the Senior Bowl, Willis continues to ace the process as one of the winners of the NFL Combine." Hodgkinson added Willis "impressed everyone he spoke with" during the Combine. Yahoo's Eric Edholm saidabout Willis: "We suspect that if any team is considering a Trey Lance-ish trade up, this is the player for whom they'd be doing it. Willis isn't without his flaws, but it's hard not to get excited about the easy pop and velocity in his throws." Last week, ESPN's Todd McShay said Willis is "more athletic, a more dynamic athlete and he definitely has a stronger arm" than Jalen Hurts, a mouth-watering prospect for QB-needy teams with top-10 picks in the 2022 draft. Depending on his landing spot, Willis has a chance to be a Week 1 starter in 2022.
RELATED:
Washington Commanders
, Atlanta Falcons
SOURCE: ProFootballNetwork.com
Mar 7, 2022, 12:40 PM ET
The Draft Network draft analyst Kyle Crabbs has the Washington Commaders selecting Liberty QB Malik Willis with the 11th selection in his latest mock draft.
Willis (6'1/215) has had a fantastic predraft process. He wowed at the Senior Bowl and showed off his dynamic arm at the combine. Washington is in need of a quarterback in the worst way, as they have called on over 40 quarterbacks thus far during the offseason. Willis has a dynamic ability to both throw and run the football and Crabbs emphasized head coach Ron Rivera's ability to maximize a quarterback with that type of dynamic skillset.
SOURCE: The Draft Network
Mar 7, 2022, 1:38 PM ET
Liberty QB Malik Willis has the best odds to be the first quarterback taken per Odds Checker US.
This should come as no surprise as Willis (6'1/215) has the best odds to be the first quarterback selected in April's draft. Both FanDuel and PointsBet Sportsbooks have him as -170 to be selected first with Kenny Pickett behind him on both. Just five days ago before workouts started, Willis was at +150 per FanDuel Sportsbook. It's more than evident that Willis has the talent to go high in the draft and the betting lines are showing that
SOURCE: Odds Checker
Mar 7, 2022, 4:26 PM ET
https://twitter.com/carolinahuddle/status/1501588422909116429?s=21Jeremy Igo @CarolinaHuddle
Panthers scouts very high on Malik Willis from what I hear.
The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar believes the Seattle Seahawks should draft former Liberty QB Malik Willis with the No. 9 overall pick.
In a draft exercise done between Dugar and Dane Brugler, Dugar said that the Seahawks should go all-in with Willis (6'0/219). After trading Russell Wilson to the Broncos to acquire the No. 9 pick, Seattle is in need of a quarterback. Dugar highlighted Seattle's propensity to zig while other teams zag, and believes they could take a shot on the quarterback with the most upside. Most believe that Willis will need to sit for a season or two, but Dugar noted that the Seahawks should play him early and "let the results dictate how to proceed from there."
SOURCE: The Athletic
Mar 9, 2022, 9:52 PM ET
That is one sick...burn.JohnnyU said:Flames is the appropriate name, as in flame out.
Thanks for the hot take.JohnnyU said:Flames is the appropriate name, as in flame out.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared Liberty QB Malik Willis to former Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler and former Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts
When talking prospect comps, Willis (6'1/215) is a fascinating one. There really isn't a great one unless you want to compare him to a transcendent player, which can be difficult to justify. Zierlein has the right idea comparing his arm and comparing his build and play style. The arm being compared to Cutler is spot on, as both possess incredible arm talent but struggle to control it. The comparison to Hurts works as well since they both struggle overall as a passer and excel in the running game.
SOURCE: nfl.com
Mar 20, 2022, 9:04 PM ET
Jay Cutler's passing game with Hurts athletic ability is worth the 1.01 in the draft. Easily.
I am worried about Atlanta trying to jump up to 1.01 nowLions might have some good offers for the #2.
I am worried about Atlanta trying to jump up to 1.01 now
For sure but I think the Falcons would be talking to the Jags to jump the Lions and to ensure they don't get double jumped.Maybe, but Jags will not draft a QB, Lions could.
Think they're moving up to the 1.01 even after signing Mariota today? Seems unlikely, but you never know. Could very well be. Occam would probably say "no," though this is the NFL Draft we're talking about.For sure but I think the Falcons would be talking to the Jags to jump the Lions and to ensure they don't get double jumped.
As much as I like MM and hope he succeeds, he does make a good bridge until Willis is ready and only has the two year contract. Signing him doesn’t mean they wouldn’t draft Willis if they like his potential enough. I don’t see them making the deal jump up but stranger things have happened.Think they're moving up to the 1.01 even after signing Mariota today? Seems unlikely, but you never know. Could very well be. Occam would probably say "no," though this is the NFL Draft we're talking about.
Yep. I'm talking solely about jumping up to get him in the draft. The more I think about it, though, as opposed to my original comment, the more teams may have to do just that.As much as I like MM and hope he succeeds, he does make a good bridge until Willis is ready and only has the two year contract. Signing him doesn’t mean they wouldn’t draft Willis if they like his potential enough. I don’t see them making the deal jump up but stranger things have happened.
Mariotta is a stop gap - I’m not saying they will move up but if they did love Willis, Mariotta isn’t stopping them from getting him.Think they're moving up to the 1.01 even after signing Mariota today? Seems unlikely, but you never know. Could very well be. Occam would probably say "no," though this is the NFL Draft we're talking about.
Yeah, I didn't make clear I was thinking about them moving up in the draft, not that Mariota would be the be-all end-all of their quarterback situation.Mariotta is a stop gap - I’m not saying they will move up but if they did love Willis, Mariotta isn’t stopping them from getting him.
Thinking about this just a little more, it seems smith may have even told MM that they were considering drafting Willis and MM would be an ideal stop gap / mentor. Ryan wouldn’t have been as much. Two year contract gets him the playing time to show what he’s got while Willis develops.Yeah, I didn't make clear I was thinking about them moving up in the draft, not that Mariota would be the be-all end-all of their quarterback situation.
Yea. As others have mentioned MM is a bridge since Willis might not be ready right away. Also he’s a good emergency plan in case a deal to get Willis isn’t able to be made.Think they're moving up to the 1.01 even after signing Mariota today? Seems unlikely, but you never know. Could very well be. Occam would probably say "no," though this is the NFL Draft we're talking about.
Plus I think Mariota might be a good (yet lesser athletically) match for style of play to Willis. Mobile and athletic so the offense could be installed and give Willis a year to get comfortable while playing the same style. It makes sense to me.Thinking about this just a little more, it seems smith may have even told MM that they were considering drafting Willis and MM would be an ideal stop gap / mentor. Ryan wouldn’t have been as much. Two year contract gets him the playing time to show what he’s got while Willis develops.
otoh, they’d be better off drafting top 2 next year and ending up with young or stroud.
Somebody get on that horn with the Jets. You need our four. You want our four.I think he goes top 5. to whom i'm not sure.
Another chance for JD to reverse mistakes and undo the Darnold move up trade for a similar haul in return.Somebody get on that horn with the Jets. You need our four. You want our four.
That's about the filthiest mouth I've ever heard.Jets gonna take Kyle Hamilton at 4, you know this, right?
Save a little and call the Giants at fiveSomebody get on that horn with the Jets. You need our four. You want our four.
Kiper had him going #2 to Detroit in his latest mock - take that with a grain of salt of course but Hamilton is a talent and could be an impact player. Once again the whole “impact position” v BPA argument comes into play.Jets gonna take Kyle Hamilton at 4, you know this, right?
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Liberty QB Malik Willis was "very impressive" in his pre-draft workouts.
"Really impressive. Sharp, grounded," Tomlin said Monday, a week after he attended Willis' workouts at Liberty University along with representatives from other NFL teams. "Comfortable in his skin." On Sunday, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said signing Mitchell Trubisky this offseason doesn't "preclude" the team from drafting a quarterback in the 2022 draft. Pittsburgh would probably need to move up from their first-round spot (20) in order to land the dual-threat Willis, whose draft stock is seemingly rising by the hour. Tomlin has expressed interest in bringing in a mobile QB this offseason.
RELATED:
Mitchell Trubisky
, Pittsburgh Steelers
SOURCE: Mark Kaboly on Twitter
Mar 28, 2022, 10:26 AM ET
Sometimes you shouldn't overlook the obvious. I am sure there are teams still regretting not taking QBs like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen with their obvious raw physical talents.
Would you rather have Willis at #2 than Ridder/Corral at #32?Sometimes you shouldn't overlook the obvious. I am sure there are teams still regretting not taking QBs like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen with their obvious raw physical talents.
I also don't think the goal for any NFL team should be terrible 2 years in a row. QB college ranking can change drastically over a year. Lions at this point should swing for the fences and draft Willis. Just like house prices, it seems like QB prices just keep rising.
assuming hutch goes 1.01, I’ll take Thibodeaux and Coral over Willis and Dean or whomever is BPA. But Coral probably won’t be there at 32 and I’d pass on QB this year.Would you rather have Willis at #2 than Ridder/Corral at #32?
I won’t even pretend to know how to evaluate this weird QB class. If the Lions think one of these QBs is the real deal, they need to do whatever it takes to get him. However, I do feel very comfortable going DE-WR-S to start the draft. If the Lions can go Thibo/Walker then Pickens then Cine it would probably be an ideal start to the draft for me.assuming hutch goes 1.01, I’ll take Thibodeaux and Coral over Willis and Dean or whomever is BPA. But Coral probably won’t be there at 32 and I’d pass on QB this year.