This is the most thorough write-up I've seen on this year's QB draft class

quote:

---

1) Malik Willis, Liberty ROUND 1

It's a projection, and the size (6-foot 1/2, 219 pounds) isn't ideal, but Willis' cannon arm, running ability and overall playmaking skills give him the nod here over Kenny Pickett. "There's really one guy that's got true NFL traits," an AFC quarterbacks coach said. "[Willis] can run. He can throw it. It's a once-every-couple-years type of arm -- it's not quite Josh Allen I don't think, but it's damn close. He can create plays. For a 6-foot-tall guy, he doesn't look small, because [he has a thick build]. Good person. Smart. He's an energy-giving type of guy."

Said an AFC general manager: "To me, he's the No. 1 guy in the class. And for whatever people want to talk about in terms of readiness or all this other stuff -- it was the same thing with Josh Allen, it was the same thing with Patrick Mahomes. I think people are a little short-sighted with that kid." A transfer from Auburn, Willis made the most of his two seasons starting for the Flames, putting up 6,929 total offensive yards (sixth in FBS) and accounting for 74 total touchdowns (47 passing, 27 rushing). "He's the only one with the talent level that deserves [to go Round 1]," an NFC coordinator said. "Now, there's some holes in his game. [But] to me, he's a better prospect than Trey Lance was a year ago and a better prospect than Justin Fields was a year ago." Other scouts and coaches echoed the comparisons to Lance and Fields, who went No. 3 overall to San Francisco and No. 11 to Chicago, respectively -- they were the third and fourth QBs taken in that draft, both after trades up involving future first-round picks.

"If I had to take a quarterback this year," an AFC coordinator said, "I would take Willis, because at least he's got the talent to get himself out of a jam when things don't look pretty." No doubt, there will be a learning curve for Willis, who, like many in this class, played in a college offense that doesn't require a lot of bandwidth from the QB. Much of his production comes off go-balls and scramble drills. And Willis' athletic ability gave him an out many times against a lower level of competition. (Liberty is an FBS independent.)

"He can unleash power (with his lower body). He's got a great arm," an NFC quarterbacks coach said. "But when you watch him play, I don't see a lot of the things we would ask him to do. He's played two top-25 programs in the last two years: One was Coastal Carolina, which he beat, and Ole Miss, which he lost to. Against those two teams, he had zero touchdown passes, he had five touchdown runs, and threw five picks. That concerns me. [But] he's got this bounce in his step, he's got this smile. Hey, this kid can be electric, and when he is electric, the dudes in the locker room are going to go to him. This is the epitome of a boom-or-bust pick." Willis finished his college career as a 62.8 percent passer for 5,176 yards, 48 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, including 12 last season. "Malik obviously is super talented," an NFC scout said. "I just have issues with his processing and the instincts. He knows his O-line's bad, but he still just stands there. He's not feeling [rushers] coming up on him and really escaping and getting the ball downfield. There's flash plays. There's a lot of bad stuff. He's definitely a project, and anybody taking him really high is going to have to fully commit to that."

---