Liberty University quarterback Malik Willis, especially after Thursday’s showing at the NFL Scouting Combine, is arguably the most intriguing prospect of the 2022 draft. Part of that intrigue—given his tremendously high upside, but presumed learning curve—lies in where he’ll end up being drafted.
So NFL media draft analyst Lance Zierlein decided to dissect the mystery, tabbing which quarterback-needy teams he believes are the likeliest (and unlikeliest) to call Willis’ name come April. The Carolina Panthers, probably to the dismay of many fans, are actually ranked at the absolute bottom of Zierlein’s forecast as a “long shot.”
“The Panthers clearly need a quarterback, but if they were to draft Willis, it would likely be after trading back, if at all,” he writes of Carolina, who is given a five-percent chance. “If you believe head coach Matt Rhule is on the hot seat, then it stands to reason he may not be in favor of drafting a quarterback who needs future development before he’s ready to take over the team.”
Although this may bum quite a few of you out, Zierlein isn’t wrong in his assumption. Rhule, after a tumultuous 5-12 campaign, needs to win and needs to win now if he wants to see another year heading the Panthers.
Would Willis, who may not be ready to command the field right away, be Rhule’s best option for immediate success? Maybe not.
