Get Excited If You Want the Steelers to Select Malik Willis in 1st Round On Thursday Night

[Steeler Nation]

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the 20th overall pick in the first round on Thursday night of the 2022 NFL Draft, and it appears that every position is on the table for the Steelers. But the one that will have everyone’s attention is if the Steelers select a quarterback. Everyone has an opinion when it comes to the quarterbacks. Don’t draft a quarterback, do select a quarterback, take this guy, that guy, it’s all crazy.

Liberty quarterback, Malik Willis (middle) shares a laugh with Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin (right) | WDBJ7


There is no consensus best quarterback like there is in most years. There isn’t a Kyler Murray, Trevor Lawrence, or Joe Burrow. If there was, Pittsburgh would have no shot at him. He’d go with the top pick like all of those guys did in their respective years. Instead, there are 5-6 guys that all have different tangibles that say they could turn into a good NFL quarterback. Just nothing that says elite.

Steeler Nation is all over the place when it comes to who they want Pittsburgh to select if it’s a quarterback, but the most commonly linked quarterback to the Steelers by fans and the media is Malik Willis. Willis has a similar build to Russell Wilson, and has the escape-ability that Wilson has shown through the years.

As we’ve went through the last couple of months, Willis’ stock has risen and fallen with each passing day. Still if you go out and Google his name, you’ll find tons of mock drafts with him being selected from #1 overall to the second round! The second round is very unlikely, though. So is #1. But in recent days, it appears that the odds makers in Vegas have turned back to Pittsburgh. In the most recent FanDuel betting odds, the popular betting website has Pittsburgh with the best odds to land Willis:

• Steelers (+250)
• Panthers (+350)
• Saints (+350)
• Falcons (+600)
• Seahawks (+600)
• Lions (+900)
• Commanders (20/1)
• Giants (20/1)
• Texans (30/1)
• Colts (30/1)
• Eagles (30/1)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have emerged as the new betting favorite to draft Malik Willis at @FDSportsbook:

Steelers (+250)
Panthers (+350)
Saints (+350)
Falcons (+600)
Seahawks (+600)
Lions (+900)
Commanders (20/1)
Giants (20/1)
Texans (30/1)
Colts (30/1)
Eagles (30/1)#NFLDraft

— Jaime Eisner (@JaimeEisner) April 21, 2022

Maybe FanDuel is buying into the fact that the Steelers have been rumored to be laying the ground work to trade up into the top 12 of the draft. That would surely give Pittsburgh a great chance to select Willis. Maybe they just believe Willis is going to last until pick #20.

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SEE WHERE WE RANK ALL OF THE TOP QB PROSPECTS​

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NFL.com has this to say about Willis:

Upside quarterback with special parts of his game, but with no guarantee they will be assembled properly into a finished product. Willis uses his rare combination of elite rushing talent and a rocket-launching right arm to unlock explosive plays in two different ways. He has the arm to beat safeties to the deepest parts of the field and makes impressive throws from inside and outside the pocket. On the flip side, Willis’ mechanical and operational inconsistencies lead to erratic timing and accuracy, and he doesn’t throw with enough touch. Protection and receiver separation were both issues, but Willis also pressed over the second half of the season and never looked comfortable in the Liberty offense. On the pro level, additional film work and a layered, pro-style passing attack could allow for more focused reads and help him see the field faster and more clearly from the pocket. Play-callers must lean into his special talent as a runner and include called runs into the game plan. Even if Willis fails to reach his passing potential, running ability doesn’t slump and he has the talent to produce on the ground at a level between Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson.

Photo via Ann Arbor News


If you think Pittsburgh is going to select Willis and aren’t familiar with gambling, let us explain what +250 means. That means if you place a bet of $100, you’d win $250. So get those bets in with FanDuel, Steeler Nation! The draft is less than a week away!

#SteelerNation

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[slashsteel]

I get excited when I think of another team drafting him.

Anywho Justin sharing the same build with Russell and mobility is where it ends. Wilson emerged with a glowing 72 percentile for completions in his last season. Malik transferred to a small school and had a whopping 61 percent completion percentage. Ever watch Sesame Street as a kid? Which of these things don't belong with the other. An accurate QB compared to an inaccurate QB. No thank you.

 

[CoolieMan]

just say NO

 

[slashsteel]

just say NO

I get excited when you say that

 

[CoolieMan]

I get excited when you say that

as if anyone could say no to you......

 

[steelcan58]

It's one thing to be foolish enough to waste a first round pick on Willis. Let's hope they aren't even more foolish and waste the first round pick plus other draft picks to move up to grab him

 

[Drink IRON City]

I get excited when I think of another team drafting him.

Anywho Justin sharing the same build with Russell and mobility is where it ends. Wilson emerged with a glowing 72 percentile for completions in his last season. Malik transferred to a small school and had a whopping 61 percent completion percentage. Ever watch Sesame Street as a kid? Which of these things don't belong with the other. An accurate QB compared to an inaccurate QB. No thank you.

You and I both brother !!!

I really hope we don't move up and waste draft capital on doing so.

There is always that chance of him being very successful in the NFL and I'd gladly eat the crow served but I more likely end up with STEAK & BACON before the crow flies.



Salute the nation

 

[Turd Ferguson]

No. Just no. This guy against legitimate D1 was garbage. 3 INTs against Ole Miss with zero TDs. and 1 TD and 1 INT against Army while throwing 50%. I don't give a hoot how far you can throw and how fast you can run. You are meat in the NFL if you lack accuracy. Enough of this talk of Willis. In any other draft this guy is late #2 or third rounder.

 

[steelhurt]

Nooooooooooo!

 

[ZonaBurgh]

Well so far, everyone appears to be split on this.

 

[Steelr4evr]

If they move up,select him and don't select Davis, I'll be pissed. I'll be even more pissed if the Ratbirds get him.

I'm just preparing for the worst.

 

[Drink IRON City]

No. Just no. This guy against legitimate D1 was garbage. 3 INTs against Ole Miss with zero TDs. and 1 TD and 1 INT against Army while throwing 50%. I don't give a hoot how far you can throw and how fast you can run. You are meat in the NFL if you lack accuracy. Enough of this talk of Willis. In any other draft this guy is late #2 or third rounder.

That's my big thing as well, transferrd "down" in competition Looks good but in reality is more run than pass, never have wanted that type of RB/QB.



Salute the nation

 

[Buster]

I am confused. Steeler Nation tells me that Kenny Pickett is the only QB the Steelers will take. Now they tell me that they will pick Willis.
I can’t handle the confusion.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Is Malik better than Mason ?




Salute the nation

 

[BLITZ]

once again, In Mitch I trust.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I get excited when I think of another team drafting him.

Anywho Justin sharing the same build with Russell and mobility is where it ends. Wilson emerged with a glowing 72 percentile for completions in his last season. Malik transferred to a small school and had a whopping 61 percent completion percentage. Ever watch Sesame Street as a kid? Which of these things don't belong with the other. An accurate QB compared to an inaccurate QB. No thank you.

I don't know if the 61% tells the full story. Willis had 5 games under 60% passing. Three of those games he threw for 30 or more passes (the other two he threw 28 and 24 passes).

When looking at his games when he had 30 or more passes, his completion percentage was 50%. In his other 10 games, he completed 66% of his passes, which is more in line with what you'd want to see.

There is a similar issue with Ridder and Howell, given they both had 4 games under 60% passing. Pickett and Corral each had two (not counting the bowl game for Corral since he was injured early).

Games with 65% or better completion percentage:
Willis-7
Ridder-5
Howell-5
Pickett-7
Corral-8

 

[Turd Ferguson]

There is history of this current coach and GM taking BS over-bloated projects with viable players being available in the first round. Somebody in ownership needs to step in and prevent them from wasting this pick. From Ziggy Hood in '09, Jarvis Jones in '13 and Artie Burns in '16. Just no to the Steelers taking a reach player in a fabricated position of need. Ugh.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

I don't know if the 61% tells the full story. Willis had 5 games under 60% passing. Three of those games he threw for 30 or more passes (the other two he threw 28 and 24 passes).

When looking at his games when he had 30 or more passes, his completion percentage was 50%. In his other 10 games, he completed 66% of his passes, which is more in line with what you'd want to see.

There is a similar issue with Ridder and Howell, given they both had 4 games under 60% passing. Pickett and Corral each had two (not counting the bowl game for Corral since he was injured early).

Games with 65% or better completion percentage:
Willis-7
Ridder-5
Howell-5
Pickett-7
Corral-8

Oh....I didn't know Liberty plays 11 games against the SEC and Big Ten. The dude had a 61% rate against third rate defenses.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Oh....I didn't know Liberty plays 11 games against the SEC and Big Ten. The dude had a 61% rate against third rate defenses.

Playing with third rate players.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Playing with third rate players.

Oh, then add he also doesn't raise the level of teammates to competition to the list of negatives.

 

[madinsomniac]

Ive come to grips with them taking someone so im really on board with them trading down to the bottom of the first round and just reaching for Ridder, who has all the traits they want and is probably a safer bet with maybe not as great an arm as Willis but still pretty good

My concerns with Willis is his absolute lack of productivity against any quality team and high bust rate grade… i think you are getting a lesser lamar jackson at best… not the kind of guy you win playoff games with

My concerns with Pickett are that he is going to be an average starter for 15 years… good enough to keep them from looking for a replacement but not great enough to carry the team when they need it

Strong could be great but they refuse to accept a non mobile qb

Ridder is the best blend of everything but he is inconsistent still..

The other two are just baker mayfield college qbs…

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

**** that

 

[Steeltime]

I'm more excited by the advertising posts on this forum.

Hey, have you heard about the new keto diet?

 

[slashsteel]

I don't know if the 61% tells the full story. Willis had 5 games under 60% passing. Three of those games he threw for 30 or more passes (the other two he threw 28 and 24 passes).

When looking at his games when he had 30 or more passes, his completion percentage was 50%. In his other 10 games, he completed 66% of his passes, which is more in line with what you'd want to see.

There is a similar issue with Ridder and Howell, given they both had 4 games under 60% passing. Pickett and Corral each had two (not counting the bowl game for Corral since he was injured early).

Games with 65% or better completion percentage:
Willis-7
Ridder-5
Howell-5
Pickett-7
Corral-8

So when he threw more his accuracy declined. Am I reading this correctly isn't that the opposite of what you want? Only remotely accurate in spurts. Still not hitting the 70 percent marker. Just don't find anything attractive there that takes me away with we are looking more at a Action Jackson prospect and less at a Russell Wilson. Thanks for the breakdown BTW love when fans do it.

 

[slashsteel]

Playing with third rate players.

Ben played with those same third rate type players and hit a 69 completion percentage in his last season. Closely hitting that desired 70 percent marker.

However we want to spin it Willis accuracy wasn't improving to the level that you think he will be consistent moving forward.