Malik Willis

Everyone likes to say Malik Willis would need a redshirt year once he enters the NFL, but is that really true? Those comments have been overstated.

When needed to set up his blocking, he displays patience and has the acceleration and explosion to pick up yards in short down and distance situations. Conclusion: Willis is a polarizing player for apparent reasons; many people - fans and analysts alike - are concerned with his ability to process the game of football at an NFL level. This is due to his elite athleticism, outstanding functional strength from the quarterback position, and good accuracy throwing to receivers on all levels of the field. For Washington, Willis is a viable option in the draft and should be looked at as a golden opportunity for offensive coordinator Scott Turner, who can mold Willis into a top-tier quarterback, given Willis’s proven desire to become a better student of the game. He was able to show display good mental processing in his ability to anticipate where his receiver will be and where the ball needs to go versus this zone coverage. Willis shows the ability to work through progressions and locate receivers beyond his initial read. Secondly, once the play is dead due to a missed read, he holds on to the ball beyond the point of throwing it away. Analysis: Willis displayed good mental processing in his ability to find a receiver beyond his initial read. He displays good awareness in sensing the free rusher on his blind side and the balance and lower body strength to withstand a tackle attempt by the blitzing defender. Willis then displays good accuracy and touch to hit his receiver in the zone’s “honey hole” (soft area of the coverage) from the pocket. Willis also shows good mental processing to identify the coverage and recognize the window he has with his receiver. In search of a fresh start and the realization that he needed to be a better student of the game, Willis transferred to the Liberty Flames in 2019 but had to sit out before becoming eligible in 2020.

How did the top QB prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, including Liberty's Malik Willis, Pitt's Kenny Pickett and Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder, ...

He is used to making all the throws, but between the measurements, limited athleticism and inconsistency with passing, he needs to do a lot of work to earn consideration as an NFL starter. Ridder didn't have the same "Wow" moments with his arm that Willis did, and he wasn't as accurate in making all the throws the way Pickett was. Pickett is a well-rounded, savvy QB who will thrive with the right support system that maximizes his moxie and passing versatility. He is a great athlete for his size, and he matches Willis' calm, confident demeanor with just the right amount of cockiness. Willis might need time to fully tap into his upside, while Pickett is more seasoned and "pro-ready" based on his college playing experience. The quarterback class in the 2022 NFL Draft may not seem strong in relation to other years, and for some it might lack true star power.

Former Liberty quarterback Malik Willis has been impressing people all week at the 2022 NFL combine with his play on the field.

For months now, the idea of the Detroit Lions taking a quarterback with their top pick in the 2022 NFL draft has been obscured by a broadly perceived lack ...

That trade closely aligns with what Lions senior assistant John Dorsey pulled off as the GM of the Kansas City Chiefs to trade up and land Patrick Mahomes back in the 2017 NFL draft. Willis already has an advocate in the building in QB coach Mark Brunell, a former NFL quarterback of a similar size (Willis is 6-0 and 219, Brunell played at 6-1 and 215) and dashing style. No chance he was talking about Bailey Zappe. The only other option was Sam Howell, who had a down 2021 season, and a down Senior Bowl week – an event that Willis dominated. The Lions do have the draft ammo to trade up higher if they feel the need, too. And based on what we’ve all seen and heard in the last couple of months, if the Lions want Willis it will take using the No. 2 overall pick to secure him. Though he’s not doing the athletic testing until his pro day later this spring, Willis showed off the arm strength and deep accuracy. Thursday night brought the hyped workout, and Willis delivered. For months now, the idea of the Detroit Lions taking a quarterback with their top pick in the 2022 NFL draft has been obscured by a broadly perceived lack of worthy candidates. For every deep rifle shot that left the closing safety running in vain, Willis would misfire a 10-yard out by several feet. While questions about his current ability level rightly curb the enthusiasm, Willis’ electrifying offseason has to force Detroit GM Brad Holmes, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions to consider him as the team’s potential quarterback of the future. It’s just the footwork. Bluntly, his college game tape from Liberty reveals a player that isn’t close to being better than Goff anytime soon.

The intrigue continues to build around Malik Willis at the NFL Scouting Combine. Lance Zierlein ranks the top seven contenders to draft the Liberty QB in ...

The Panthers clearly need a quarterback, but if they were to draft Willis, it would likely be after trading back, if at all. Taking Willis 32nd overall, with one of the selections acquired from the Rams in last year's Goff- Matthew Stafford swap, could be a wise investment with one of their two first-round picks -- but if they really want him, they may need to maneuver up the board rather than sit back and wait for Willis to fall to them. O'Connell’s likely offensive scheme is quarterback-friendly and happens to be a better fit for Willis than what the prospect ran at Liberty. With Kirk Cousins' contract expiring after the season, O'Connell could use 2022 to develop Willis in the background while working him into in-game packages, like San Francisco did with Trey Lance last season. Ozzie Newsome did just that in his final draft as GM of the Ravens (in 2018), selecting a quarterback in Lamar Jackson with rare run/pass talent who needed additional time for development. Liberty's Malik Willis, who threw at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine but didn't participate in other drills, is a well-built, durable quarterback with elite arm talent and skill as a runner, but his tape was very inconsistent this year. However, just because we may not see a quarterback or two taken with one of the first three picks, that doesn't mean there won't be intrigue.

Former Liberty University quarterback Malik Willis, who is projected to be one of the first three QBs selected in the 2022 draft, was caught on video ...

You’re the face of the city. “I mean, you’re the face of the franchise, literally. In 2019, Willis transferred from Auburn to Liberty, where he started his final two years and led the program to a 10-1 season and Top 25 finish in 2020.