Steelers draft: Predicting the top-5 quarterbacks on Pittsburgh’s radar

1. Malik Willis, Liberty

Like Sam Howell, Malik Willis is still very raw (probably even more so). However, the tools are so good that I really believe this is the player the Steelers would love to get their hands on in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Pittsburgh’s brass seemed infatuated with Willis at the Senior Bowl this year as he showcased arm talent and athleticism that was on a different level than every other quarterback in Mobile. Though they likely know that Willis isn’t going to be ready to play right away, he fits the description of today’s NFL quarterback that Tomlin could be looking for.

What Willis does possess is excellent arm talent and the traits to develop into one of the better quarterbacks in the league, if all goes well. He’s also a very high-character player who is easy to like.

The Steelers went with a small-school QB way back in 2004 and things worked out pretty well for them. After a lengthy meeting with Willis and his parents, Pittsburgh’s brass could be ready to pull the trigger on Malik Willis if he starts to fall within striking distance.

Obviously, a lot can change between now and April, but this is my current guess on how the Steelers view the QB prospects this year. I’ll continue to track their visits leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft.