Why Malik Willis is a perfect fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers

While the Steelers search for their next franchise QB, Steelers fans should keep an eye on young Liberty signal-caller Malik Willis.

With the Steelers on a hunt to replace the legend of Big Ben on the field, all eyes turn to upcoming NFL free agency and the NFL Draft in late April. The team will likely leave no stone unturned in the process of searching for the heir to the QB 1 throne in Pittsburgh, including looking into 2022 draft prospect Malik Willis out of Liberty University.

Willis is a rare blend of elite physical tools that can make you shake your head in disbelief as you watch his film. Jaw-dropping arm strength, true open field speed, physicality running the football, and pinpoint accuracy at all levels of the field.

The elite physical ability that Willis brings to the table would give Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada a shiny new tool to truly unlock a new dimension of the team’s offense, a designed complex QB run scheme.

Willis plays a bit like Jalen Hurts mixed with Josh Allen. Not scared to truck through defenders, and thrives in the chaos of improvisation. He brings Josh Allen level rushing capabilities to the table, the threat of his legs around the goal line would be an incredibly welcome addition to the Steelers offense.

The thing that really made me fall in love with Malik Willis on film however was his arm talent. While he is still a bit raw in reading defensive coverage schemes and throwing on anticipation out routes, he has jaw-dropping deep ball accuracy and arm strength.

Anyone who watched a Steelers game noticed just how much the Steelers deep passing game was non-existent even with elite downfield weapons like Chase Claypool. Willis is more than willing and capable to take deep shots down the field, effortlessly able to flick the ball fifty yards off his back foot and hit his open receiver downfield in stride. Yes, in stride! Steelers fans haven’t seen that in the last two years.

While Willis is my personal favorite QB in this class and my QB 2 overall in pure talent behind Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, he still has some work to do before he’s pro-ready. Willis would likely need to sit for at least 6 games before I feel he is ready to take an NFL field as a starting QB. Similar to Trey Lance in San Francisco, I think Willis would really benefit from sitting for a year and turning his elite physical tools into more of a refined pro QB.

So, why Willis to Pittsburgh?

Mike Tomlin has hinted in press conferences over the past month that the team views mobility as a plus in looking for their next QB. Mobility, check. Next up, draft position and Willis’ draft stock. Right now the Steelers hold the 20th pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and Malik Willis’ draft stock falls perfectly within that range, even having draft expert Daniel Jerimiah having Pittsburgh select Willis in his most recent mock draft. Mike Tomlin was also reportedly in love with Willis at the Senior Bowl down in Mobile, which could point to long-term interest in the NFL Draft.

The talent, the scheme fit, and the draft capital and draft stock of Malik Willis all align with the trajectory of the Pittsburgh Steelers and I think Willis could be a fantastic long-term project and franchise QB for the team over time.

If I were Kevin Colbert I’d go out and get a starting ready QB like Marcus Mariota and draft Malik Willis at 20, allow the 2 to compete with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins for the starting job in training camp, and focus on developing Malik Willis’ elite physical tools into a more refined, polished NFL QB over the next season.