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After having seen Ben Roethlisberger finally decide to hang up his cleats, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of their next franchise QB. While they did sign Mitch Trubisky this offseason, the Steelers are a great landing spot for one of the top QB prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.
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Trubisky was brought in on a two-year deal worth over $14 million, which is not a cheap investment for the Steelers. Having sat behind Josh Allen last season in Buffalo, Trubisky is looking to re-establish himself and land on his feet in what could turn into a long-term role.
But Liberty’s Malik Willis looks to be one of the draft’s most pro-ready prospects, even with a few flaws to his repertoire. Being able to sit behind Trubisky for a year and learn the pace of the NFL helps all rookies, and establishing important relationships with other members of the offense is super crucial for Willis, all reasons why the Steelers should make a move to go get their guy.
Steelers Trade For Malik Willis In The 2022 NFL Draft
3. No need to hand Willis the starting job Day 1
With Trubisky the in-house favorite to start the year as the starter, Willis will not be handed the keys right off the bat. Helping develop him into a solid NFL QB takes time, and entering the league from a school like Liberty certainly could extend his developmental timeline a bit.
There are no guarantees that Trubisky ends up taking the starting job with full force in training camp, so having another bonafide option like Willis help push Trubisky to be better than he has shown in the past will help the Steelers become a better team, even if they still struggle in 2022.
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada will be able to run with Willis and how he acclimates to the pace of the league, while being able to play off of his strong suits and help develop his shortcomings. With an offensive staff in place that was able to keep Roethlisberger at least somewhat cognisant running an offense, it will be interesting to see how they are able to unlock Willis.
2. Age and skillset best in the QB class
Younger than both Kenny Pickett and Matt Corral, Willis fits the timeline well with his offensive weapons while still being very moldable. At 22 years of age, Willis has only had two sustained seasons of collegiate football, but during his two seasons, he certainly made a name for himself.
47 TDs to only 18 INTs, while rushing for over 1,800 yards and 27 rushing scores highlights just the type of highlight-reel that Willis can be with the ball in his hands. Smart with his choices and knowledgeable of what opposing defenses are throwing his way, his explosiveness alone gives him the highest ceiling of every single QB in this year’s NFL Draft.
1. Steelers finally have an offense to be excited about
Surrounded by young talent like Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, and Pat Freiermuth, Willis would excel with the stable of weapons he would have. While his situation at Liberty was not necessarily dire, he was really presented with the type of weapons that typically accompany a sure-fire NFL prospect, speaking to just how much talent Willis has.
Willis can run option variations and mesh-type plays with Harris in the backfield, find Johnson or Freiermuth downfield with his cannon of a throwing arm, and feel comfortable in the pocket behind an up-and-coming offensive line unit that should be better than its disastrous 2021 performance.
With Willis in the fold, the Steelers would finally have something to look forward to on their offense, even if they must wait another year before he takes over the starting role – permanently.
