If the Steelers still want Malik Willis, they will have to trade up

Malik Willis has been heavily linked to the Steelers, but in order to get him, the team will likely have to trade up.

Malik Willis has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and many believe that he is the top option. As a result, he has been heavily linked to the Steelers, as the successor to Ben Roethlisberger. However, after a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, and at the Senior Bowl, Willis appears to be rising up draft boards.

Despite signing Trubisky, the Steelers are still a potential landing spot for Willis, and they are not the only team in the NFL that could select him. Many of the teams that need a quarterback are slotted ahead of them in the draft. If the Steelers really want Willis, they will most likely have to go up to get him, since there are several other teams who could feel the same way about him.

3. Dark Horse Teams

While there are several obvious choices for landing spots for Malik Willis, there are also some teams who could serve as potential fits, but due to their location in the draft order may not be in the best position to take him. However, just because they may not be in the optimal spot to take him doesn’t mean they can’t reach or trade into a more optimal position.

The first of these teams are the Detroit Lions, who have the most options when it comes to the three dark horse teams. The Lions hold the 2nd overall selection, as well as the 32nd pick in this year’s draft. The team has Jared Goff, but he could be a bridge option for Willis to learn behind, and the Lions’ coaching staff coached Willis the week of the Senior Bowl, and could easily have fallen in love with him as a prospect.

While picking Willis second overall may be a reach, if the team truly is in love with him they can ensure they get him with that pick. Or they can go the trade route, either by trading back from 2, or up from 32 to make sure they get him. The trade option could let them get a blue-chip prospect like Aidan Hutchinson or Kyle Hamilton at 2 while trading up from 32 as well as giving away a few other selections to ensure they get him. Or, trading could let them move back from 2 and stockpile picks, while also getting their quarterback of the future.

The Carolina Panthers are the final dark horse, as they have a clear need at the position after missing out on Deshaun Watson, but sitting at sixth overall may make it hard to pass on a blue-chip prospect for a project quarterback. However, the Sam Darnold experiment failed miserably, and the team has some cornerstone pieces such as D.J. Moore, Christian McCaffrey, and Brian Burns, and could view Willis as the piece that takes them to the next level. They could stand-pat and select him at six, or they can move back a bit and select him, but that presents a risk due to one of the teams I will mention later.