The NFL Draft is nearly upon us with each team around the league still faced with questions about their roster. At the forefront of these is the Washington Commanders who are coming off a 7-10 season. The team made headlines this offseason by trading for Carson Wentz. It is clear they have the intent of flipping into “win-now” mode and have been in search of the quarterback to help make this happen. This brings us, eventually, to Malik Willis.

While most QB trades indicate a franchise's long-term belief in the player, this is a unique situation. The Commanders are taking a risk on a guy whose value has taken a sharp turn in recent years. The franchise has done a great job rebounding from the laughingstock it once was and is beginning to turn the corner. This effort must be continued and should be focused on looking for a long-term solution at quarterback. Securing the right QB is essential to a franchise's success and Washington has an opportunity to do just this by trading up for Malik Willis in the draft.

Commanders Trade for Malik Willis in 2022 NFL Draft

1)Carson Wentz is not that guy

It is worth a chance to see if Carson Wentz has anything left in the tank, but is not something the team should be confident in. The 29-year-old has shown incredible flashes during his NFL career. Washington did not give up a first-round pick and managed to secure the QB for much less than it cost the Colts to trade for him last offseason. However, the fact that the Colts were willing to trade him after just one season for less than they gave up to get him is a surefire red flag.

Carson Wentz is an interesting quarterback. He has the arm strength for the position, possesses solid mobility, and can make eye-popping plays at times. However, he makes costly mistakes and can lose the game for a team by refusing to give up on a play. Wentz is too tough for his own good and also has a growing list of injuries on his resume. Washington may be hoping he can return to the MVP candidate he once was with the Eagles, but counting on this to happen seems to be a longshot.

2)Malik Willis will thrive

Washington Commanders fans are in need of a quarterback to get excited about and Malik Willis is just the guy to do it. The two-year college starter is a dual-threat with an NFL-ready body. Willis is a gritty player who is difficult to bring down in the pocket or in the open field. He is entertaining, electrifying, and productive with the ball in his hands.

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There is often a concern with armstrength for many of these new styles of quarterback, but this is far from the case with Willis. The Liberty product is regarded by most scouts to have the best arm in this draft. He is capable of throwing from multiple arm angles and effectively puts it on a line. Willis shows an impressive ability to air out the long ball while still being able to fit it in tight windows when needed.

Possessing all the physical tools, the main weakness with Willis is his decision-making. He oftentimes attempts to sling the ball in a tight window rather than take the open man. Malik Willis also will benefit a great deal from having NFL caliber wider receivers around him moving forward.

3)The time is now

This draft is an excellent chance to secure Malik Willis because of the situation the organization is in. The Commanders have an impressive defense and a roster without major holes in it. Sacrificing a few additional picks to move up will not be a major detriement.

The insurance of having Carson Wentz on the roster will also take a great deal of pressure off of Willis. The rookie will be able to develop at his own pace and not be rushed from the start. It may seem strange to make two moves for a quarterback in the same offseason but makes total sense when breaking down the organization's short and long-term goals.

The Commanders can give the Carson Wentz experiment enough time to show its results while still developing their long-term future. If the rookie proves to be ready sooner than expected, or Carson Wentz is worse than tolerated, Willis certainly will be ready to take the reigns at any point. A new era has begun for the Washington Commanders and it is time they prove this by going out and getting their future franchise quarterback.