Steelers Showing Early Interest in Liberty QB Malik Willis

The latest PFF mock has us moving up to #9 and drafting Willis.

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2022...teelers?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

I have to admit even throwing the ball underhanded it had plenty of zip on it.

 

If that actually happens there will be posters on here jumping off tall buildings.

 

Me

 

Just no. Hell no on trading up to get him. Our franchise QB isn’t in this draft.

 

i'd much rather have a consistent offense then a highlight reel offense a couple of times a game.

 

Me too lol

 

He is actually much better than Baker Mayfield in terms of his arm strength and is far superior than Mayfield ever hopes to be with his mobility and extending plays. Realistically speaking, best case scenario for Sam Howell is that he is a bigger Russell Wilson. Both were high level character players coming out and both had great arm talent with the uncanny ability to make plays off script as well. That said, like Wilson, Howell needs to sit it down in his Rookie Season as his should be one of a learning experience and not one being thrown to the wolves.



That said and, me and you can both agree to disagree on this but, Malik Willis is as close to what the team could ever want in a Mobile QB if it hit them in the face. That said, we both can easily agree that Willis possess the highest bust potential of any player, not just QB, in the class. More than even Evan Neal; a Offensive Tackle who is reminding me more of an another hyped up Alabama OT taken too high in D.J. Fluker if you remember him!!!

 

Pickett's arm talent far exceeded anything Maddox could ever muster. Worst case scenario is that Pickett is Kirk Cousins. Best case is Derek Carr.


Malik Willis is truly one of two paradigms here. He is either Tyrod Taylor as his lowest floor or DeShaun Watson as his highest peak. Sadly, there is no middle ground with him; only extremes. Even so, for me, the payoff is worth it if Willis is properly developed. Now, is Matt Canada the guy?


Good question!!! Hell if I know.

 

I hear you man. I am right there with you. Willis is talented but for our needs I dont think its the right fit at this time. Draft line/trenches and other needs and I like Mariota or even Tyrod Taylor. I think Stroud cld be available next year. we'll see.

 

I agree. Not a gimmick player. Could sit for a year.

Trading up to get ANY QB would be a travesty with so many needs to fill. And if anyone thinks were going to be a player in the first day of FA you ain't been a Steeler Fan to long.

Willis? Sorry i'm not on board with let alone trading up to 9? 9?

 

When I read articles from so-called experts having the Steelers trading up into the top 10 to draft Willis (or any QB in this draft) the overwhelming thought for me is how in the world did this dude become an “expert”?!

 

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!

 

As you said yourself, QB is so different. Those other pieces are necessary of course. However, finding that guy at QB is truly one of a different cloth.


As I have stated multiple times, finding him makes the journey to the NFL Playoffs more accessible than without.

 

Disagree then on Howell.


For that matter, North Carolina's Offensive Philosophy is not exactly what I would call something akin to being NFL Ready. Too many one reads in that offense and, as is often the case, having merely one read is going to get a QB picked off more often than not; an elite caliber receiving player making a big difference here. Howell having those tendencies, with the current staple of weapons we have available is not an ideal setup for him.


Patt Freiermuth possibly but then all DC's would have to do is to allocate resources to stop him. Beyond him, Diontae but calling him as gifted as say DeVante Adams and Cooper Kupp? That is quite a leap of faith there.

 

Yep.


Throwing a Rookie QB to the literal wolves seldom begets high level results. For that matter, there are way too many variables not being accounted here for such extreme cases. Be it Big Ben, Russell Wilson or the current iteration in Justin Herbert, Rookie QBs simply are not going to have those types of seasons on a yearly basis as the circumstances and variables are way too unpredictable overall.

 

The first comparison is he is either a mediocre/average NFL starter or borderline top 10 starter in the league. That's a pretty tight window for a ceiling and floor. If that's the range I would take Pickett in a heartbeat.

I disagree on Willis though. He is nowhere near as impressive as Deshaun Watson. I see his ceiling as Tyrod but a slightly better runner. We would have to roll 20 dice and have them all come up 6's for him to be much better than that. His floor is much closer to Terrell Pryor as a QB or Akili Smith. If he fails as an NFL starter, he is going to fail HARD. I see his career being very similar to Kordell Stewart. He will start out getting in only on certain packages and formations (not at WR like Slash, but as QB in certain packages), then take on the starting role when we feel he's ready enough to roll the dice on. He's going to be impressive when he's good, but he will never be consistent enough to be a full time NFL QB.
You have to be patient with him. If you rush him out too early as a starter there's a very real possibility that he sets the NFL turnover record during a full 17 game season. He doesn't "feel" pressure in the pocket at all, he extends plays quite well but is extremely loose with the ball, and relies purely on his arm strength too much. NFL defenses will feast on him. I just don't see the upside in taking that big of a risk. There are plenty of other QB's in this draft who are far more impressive that I would rather take that chance on.

 

Agree to disagree on Malik Willis!!


There in lies the crux of our current endeavor; the Steelers have historically banked on immense raw talent to go with immense athletic ability.... for better or worse. Sometimes it works out... others it does not. If there is one major aspect to take away from the Kevin Colbert regime since 2010, it is painfully clear that, whomever garners the most attention among the Steelers brass is someone the Steelers are definitely zeroing in on.


Malik had at least 9 or more confirmed Steelers brass onlooking during the Senior Bowl alone. I would imagine that the FO is likely to continue to monitor his progress as the months pass by leading up to the class. However, one aspect that has still not been spoken off enough on this board, veteran members doubly so and no less, is the trade partner who will take the Steelers up on their offer.


I have already laid out the likes of Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia. For me, these three are more or less the best candidates pending any news at the Owners meeting. Why mention that particular meeting? Back in 2019, both AR 2 and Pat Bowlen were spotted having quite the lengthy chat at the time at the meetings conclusion. There is no real tangible evidence there as to how much the talks were discussing the possibility of moving up but at the bare minimum, those talks did have some form of effect on that trade working its way forward as a whole.


I would suspect something similar will be at play should the Steelers be hell bent on getting Willis.

 

Well... the NFL Draft is not a 100% guarantee for every pick a team makes. The Steelers are no different as stated before. It is doubly so the case for a QB as the bust rate is very high.



That said and, sadly, this is a QB driven league. Nabbing that guy can make navigating the season much more convenient than without. However, for today's QB, it seems that merely having the natural ability to throw the Football is no longer enough. Having some athletic ability also seems to be a pre requisite now. The question now pertains is to if said QB has both characteristics but with the ability to get better and do so exponentially


Again, if it does not work out, not very good then. However, if it does... can be very good. Either way and again, none of this matters at present. Unless the Steelers get a trade partner, Malik Willis is not likely going to be a Steeler.