If the Steelers still want Malik Willis, they will have to trade up
By Scott Long
1. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are the final team that the Steelers must be worried about. After trading Matt Ryan to the Colts and taking on a mass dead cap hit, it is clear that the Falcons have accepted the rebuild is here. Not to mention they will also be without Calvin Ridley this season, who was suspended for gambling on games, and it’s easy to see why the rebuild is necessary
The Falcons did bring in Marcus Mariota as a bridge quarterback, but that doesn’t rule them out of drafting a quarterback as they have no long-term answer in place. If Willis were to be drafted by the Saints he would join an offense that features: Kyle Pitts, Cordarrelle Patterson, and Maybe Calvin Ridley after this season.
Willis and Patterson could make up a dynamic backfield in the running game, and Pitts would give Willis a legitimate weapon to throw the ball to, as he is the best young tight end in football. While it is possible that they prefer a quarterback like Kenny Pickett, the fact that he is more pro-ready and can help them compete now makes that less likely. It would be foolish to rule out the possibility of a quarterback-needing team like the Falcons, possibly being interested in Willis, and building around him.
The Falcons hold the eighth overall selection, and it would take a lot for the Steelers to move up ahead of the Falcons to take him. However, if the Steelers decide that Willis is their guy, then they must be considering the possibility of trading up. This would likely be a draft-day trade as it wouldn’t make sense to trade up to in front of Atlanta until they see if he makes it past Carolina. Clearly, Atlanta is interested in a long-term quarterback, as they were finalists for Deshaun Watson, we’ll see if they like Willis too.
The Steelers would have to trade a lot, but if they hear the Falcons are interested and they like him they would have to get ahead of them in order to get him. Likely that trade partner would be the Giants who pick at 5 and 7, and could stockpile picks by moving the number seven pick. The trade would be a win-win as the Steelers would ensure they get a quarterback, while the Giants could add picks this year and next year to fill holes all over their roster.
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It remains to be seen just how interested the Steelers are in Willis, but if they do view him as their franchise quarterback, they will likely have to move up to get him. The Steelers aren’t the only team who’s interested in him, and it’s unlikely he falls to their spot at pick 20.