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The Pittsburgh Steelers figure to be in the market for a new quarterback this offseason. Whether they choose to approach their need via the draft, trade, or free agency remains to be seen, but offseason rumors have linked the team to one of the Class of 2022's top arms. According to Pro Football Network's Tony Pauline, via Andrew Fillipponi, the Steelers have grown enamored with former Auburn and Liberty quarterback Malik Willis, citing some similarities in his game to that of Pittsburgh legend Ben Roethlisberger.
NFL draft guru @TonyPauline on @937theFan talking about Malik Willis: "I know the Steelers absolutely like him…they like a lot of the things they liked about Ben Roethlisberger. Arm strength. Athleticism. Plays he can make in and out of the pocket."
Do you want Malik Willis?
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) February 16, 2022
“I know the Steelers absolutely like him… they like a lot of the things they liked about Ben Roethlisberger. Arm Strength. Athleticism. Plays he can make in and out of the pocket,” said Pauline on an appearance on 937theFan.
Willis projects to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board in the 2022 NFL Draft, with him and Pittsburgh Panthers star Kenny Pickett currently considered the top two QBs of the class.
ESPN's Todd McShay's latest NFL mock draft has the Steelers trading up to grab Willis in the middle of the first round, suggesting the team is circling in on the Liberty product. That same mock draft sees Pickett going ahead of Willis to the Washington Commanders.
While there are certainly some similarities between Willis and Roethlisberger, as both boast tremendous arm strength and are comfortable scrambling outside of the pocket, it's worth noting that Willis is a vastly superior rusher than Big Ben ever was. Across 23 games at Liberty, the projected first-rounder racked up 1,822 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns, showcasing his versatility as a dual-threat quarterback.
As the draft inches nearer, the rumblings of the Steelers and Willis as a potential fit continue to grow.
