Should Steelers fans be nervous about drafting Malik Willis?

Malik Willis has untapped potential, but here’s why Pittsburgh Steelers fans should be nervous about taking an incredibly raw QB in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Since the start of the offseason, Malik Willis is the name that the Steelers fans have set their sights on. Based on Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert’s visits dating back to the Senior Bowl, it was apparent that Pittsburgh had a huge interest in Willis, and fans no doubt fell in love with the tools.

Willis has impressed talent evaluators and spectators this offseason at the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, and his Liberty Pro Day. During each event, his tools were on full display as he would make off-platform throws across his body or flick the ball 65 yards down the field.

I don’t deny that Willis has upside. With an elite set of legs and a cannon arm, the athletic QB prospect will be able to buy time and extend the play often at the next level. However, I think that NFL Draft evaluators and fans have gotten so caught up in the tools this offseason that they are ignoring the entire package a team would be getting in Malik Willis.

Willis is incredibly raw

Recently, I’ve gone back and watched a lot more tape on Malik Willis. This is something I did often early in the process, but I wanted to revisit it after his stock skyrocketed over the past two months. When you watch the tape, you see a player with just as many cringe-worthy plays as splash plays.

Willis has to work on everything — his accuracy, staying in the pocket, going through progressions, getting the ball out on time, and not making poor decisions. This is easier said than done, and it’s not something that is guaranteed to be corrected at the next level.

Take Sam Darnold, for instance. A lot of draft analysts loved Darnold coming out of USC because of his quality mobility within the pocket and strong arm to make every NFL throw. However, turnovers and turnover-worthy plays were a concern in college (22 interceptions in two seasons). Sadly, this was something he was never able to correct at the next level.

How should Steelers fans feel about Willis?

If the Steelers get into a position on draft day where they can make a play for Malik Willis, there’s plenty of reason to get excited. Pittsburgh would be getting a flashy QB with terrific physical traits and high upside. However, I think there would be just as much reason to be nervous.

Willis doesn’t just have one or two big question marks about his game; there are many. Before he’s ready to see an NFL field, he needs to work on a plethora of things. But like some of the quarterbacks drafted before him, I don’t think we can count on Willis to fix every area of his game.

Josh Allen is one of the only examples of a complete project at the QB position who did indeed pan out. Allen had awful mechanics in college, made bad decisions with the football, averaged just 6.7 yards per attempt as a junior, and never led his team to a record better than 8-5.

Despite all of these things working against him, Allen not only was a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, but he also proved to correct many of his flaws to become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

If the Steelers drafted Malik Willis, they would be hoping for a similar career trajectory. Like Allen, Willis has no shortage of things he needs to work on, but the sky is the limit. However, Allen is what we would typically call an ‘outlier’ — meaning that he defied the odds to be as good as he is right now.

If the Steelers select Malik Willis on draft day, I’m going to get excited about the pick. I think it’s important not to settle at the QB position and to take a player who won’t limit your team’s upside. However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about Willis panning out. Right now, he’s miles away from being ready to step onto an NFL field.