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Steelers Showing Early Interest in Liberty QB Malik Willis

Discussion in 'The Bill Nunn Draft Room' started by SteelersfaninPhilly, Feb 1, 2022.

  1. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Hmm....


    I believe it is firmly clear that everyone has their own opinions about Malik Willis. Some like him, others do not. For me personally, I can see it going both ways. Infinite potential and immeasurable talent only matched by severe lacking of the overall fundamentals coupled with the overall raw discipline overall. This is about as big of a "boom or bust" prospect that I have honestly ever have seen since Tremaine Edmunds; a boom so far but still raw in some areas.


    If Malik is allowed to Redshirt and not just learn all that he can but apply those lessons to get better, this can turn out well; health permitting included of course. If he cannot... well... guess that is quite the swing and miss there. One major aspect not being discussed and, is worth bringing up again is the suitable trading partner.


    In 2019 it was the Broncos for Devin Bush. Now, I doubt that the Broncos are willing to re-enact that again but the New York Jets? That is a team worth considering for certain if the rumors are true. Again though, I doubt that the Jets will be as charitable as the Broncos were in 2019; doubly so given the fact that it is a QB. Then again, with trades.. one really never knows.



    Guess we all will have to wait and see!! :drinks:
     
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  2. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    I really hope some other team picks Willis early, just so the Steelers don't do something dumb and trade up for him.
     
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  3. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    I saw a mock recently that had him going - I think 6th overall - to Carolina.
     
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  4. biggbunch68

    biggbunch68

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    I saw a couple of mocks of him going to Washington
     
  5. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    If the Steelers want him that bad, they will have to move up to get him. Bush cost a 1st, 2nd and 3rd to get into the top 10 from the same position they find themselves in this year. Actually they just swapped first round picks but still, thats the starting point you are looking at for any package to move up.

    Unless this mobility talk and apparent interest in Willis is all a smoke screen, I think this board is going to be entertaining on draft night. I say there is a 50/50 chance they will do that.
     
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  6. Gary S.

    Gary S. New Member

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  7. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    If we trade a future 1st round pick to move up for ANY of the QBs in this draft class, I’ll probably be throwing stuff at my TV. Imagine having a lousy 2022 due to having Mason, Haskins or a rookie starting, ending up with the highest pick we’ve earned in 50+ years, and having that pick go to another team because we used it to trade up to pick one of the QBs in this draft who all have red flags. Ugh. I can live with taking one of these QBs at #20, but this is a draft where there are no top-tier QB prospects, and a bunch of late 1st/early 2nd QB prospects.
     
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  8. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    What about Corral? I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about him. I just started looking at his games the guy can freaking play and he’s tailor made for RPO offense. The way he manipulates defenses with playaction and moving defenders around with his eyes, he really sells his fakes, he’ll stare down a RB in the backfield to draw in the safety only to turn and quickly fire at a receiver down the slide line. And of course he can kill you with his legs whether designed runs or escaping the rush.

    I think my order is:

    Willis
    Corral
    Pickett
    Howell
    Ridder

    I could swap Corral and Pickett, its that close for me. Ridder I’m not sure of taking in the first, think I would try and grab him in the second. There was something bothering me about him and then someone on twitter nailed it, Daniel Jones.

    As much as I like Willis, I’d be very happy with Corral.
     
  9. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    I have run hot and cold on Corral when watching games. He’s fearless about throwing wherever he needs to throw, or plowing through guys to get that extra yard. He’s got great arm talent, not just in terms of strength, but also being able to throw on the run right or left, and being able to throw with the right blend of touch and zip to go over LBs but in front of safeties. He’s a tough SOB too. He played on injuries to both ankles at the same time, and relied on his arm much more than his legs for a few games. He looked good throwing in those games too. What bothers me about him is his one read and go style. I also think his frame doesn’t match his physical running style. Sometimes his fearless throwing leads to “duh” turnovers. He has the talent, but he needs to be developed carefully. I’d be good with him at #20 if it shakes out that way. Someone is probably going to take him earlier because of the upside.
     
  10. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    I dislike Corral more than I do Willis. LoL. Neither let a play develop. Ever. People can point 2 Corral throwing when He injured His ankle, but that was against My crappy college team. LoL. The only one that plays like I think You should play in the NFL 2 win is Pickett, and I'm scared of His hands. LoL
     
  11. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member

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    Same here. "Teams are very much concerned about his hand size and ability to handle bad outdoor conditions along with his tendency to hold onto the ball. Pickett is rumored to have 8.25-inch hands. No NFL quarterback with sub-nine-inch hands has started a game in the past decade. He hardly saw rain in a game this past season, but Pickett earned a 37.2 passing grade when there was some type of precipitation in his college career. He also averaged 3.19 seconds per throw in 2021, which would have been the slowest time in the NFL this past season.” Pickett also turns 24 in June.
     
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  12. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    I’m trying to find video of Pickett playing in poor conditions. All that I have found so far is the second half of the game vs. UNC, and he didn’t look good. It’s definitely a concern.
     
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  13. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    I know. I'm way concerned now.
     
  14. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    Get him some of those Tom Brady deflated balls.:cool:
     
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  15. Fe3CCity

    Fe3CCity Well-Known Member

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    I don't mean to take a side but I am.
    @Blast Furnace you're being a little eye test and @Steel_Elvis is just giving a number.

    If I could try to surmise the discussion is potential v potential ( I thinks it's why there is a disconnect).

    Blast is saying highest potential ceiling steel elvis is saying potential is always there.

    It's a gamble question, as I think we can all agree.
    We have a 30% chance of hitting, do we swing for the fences?
     
  16. numbah58

    numbah58 Staff Member Mod Team

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    Nothing wrong with a little swag. Most of the great ones have it.
     
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  17. CK 13

    CK 13 Well-Known Member

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    Can't read defenses???
    If he can't hit his first read he "Takes Off"?
    A pick machine in the waiting I see.
    A project. Major.
    Who will coach him up if they pick him?
    To many red flags for me but what do I know.

    Not much for Pickett and its not just the hand size. Could be a Leaf type situation. Just a feeling.

    Might be able to get Howell in the 2nd.

    If not you go with Rudolph/ Haskins/Dobbs. Or bring in a small time vet.

    Wait for a QB next season. Bolster the lines. ILB, OLB, Safety, Corner ect.

    Side note:

    Garoppolo will be traded somewhere. Rumor is a 2nd rounder or a 3rd and a player. He does have a history of injuries though.
     
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  18. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    he's one of the only one's to transfer down in competition to put up better numbers. most transfer up a grade and put up numbers. i'd rather see that from a QB. will any of these QB's give us a better chance then a QB that is already in the league? sure they are younger but does that translate to a better outcome? do we waste the years we have cam and TJ and several others under contract waiting for a rookie to come along? what will be the best for the franchise for the next 5 years? so young already on the offensive side and still need to add. who takes command of the offense? do we waste a good defense waiting? questions the front office need to discuss.:cool:
     
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  19. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    As I watch more and more games from 2019 - 2021, I’m warming up to Howell more and more. He may be able to be a capable rookie starter. He stepped in as a true freshman and threw 38 TDs vs. 7 interceptions, and looked nothing like a freshman. So he has successfully made one big leap in successive years already from high school to power 5 conference starter. I have a hard time seeing him being any worse than the best that we’ve seen from Mayfield.
     
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  20. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    People making these predictions are basing on what they think a QB’s value is and not how teams act when needing a QB.

    Willis, Howell, Coral will never sniff the second round.

    Maybe Ridder and Strong drop out of the first, actually I think Strong definitely will, not sure about Ridder.
     
  21. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Not that I think any of them deserve 2 be, but I would bet all , but maybe one gets taken in the 1st round.
     
  22. Confluence

    Confluence Well-Known Member

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    this may not be fact but this thought occurred to me:

    Kenny Pickett ceiling= Tommy Maddox

    Malik Willis ceiling = Kordell Stewart

    think about this (I think we could do better next year) draft OL, DL ILB, DB, WR (if Smith Schuster leaves)
     
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  23. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Play is never over with this guy. Shades of Mahomes here.

     
  24. Hanratty#5

    Hanratty#5 Well-Known Member

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    If you throw a forward pitch 20 yards in the NFL it is getting intercepted.
     
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  25. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    That ball got there in a hurry and on target. Mahomes makes unorthodox throws without being intercepted a lot.
     
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